January 11, 2008

US outpaces Australia in Japanese beef market in 2007

US beef exports to Japan rose to more than eight-fold in 2007, outpacing Australian beef which fell by 7 percent.

The US has clinched back a portion of the lucrative Japanese beef market after 2003's mad cow outbreak.

Australia reported of record export shipments to Japan in 2006.

Greg Doud, trade chief of National Cattlemens Beef Association said the remarkable performance of US beef in the Japanese market is attributed to the weakening US dollar, improved marketing efforts and Australia's droughts.

However, US only accomplished 25 percent of its target efforts to re-gain Japan beef market, Doud pointed.

Continued pressure by the US government to convince Japan to adhere to international standards and lift all mad cow-related restrictions on US beef, will allow a fuller recovery, he said.