January 12, 2011

Lower import tariffs continue on Turkish beef

The Turkish market has opened up for Irish beef from animals aged 30 months or under, on the back of the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture extending the period of lower import tariffs.

According to Peter Duggan, Strategic Information Services, Bord Bia, the tariffs will remain in place until the end of 2011, as domestic beef production is not meeting domestic demand.

In a report compiled by the USDA, Duggan said the USDA suggests that Turkish cattle supplies fell by 19% over the 2000-09 period to 1.7 million head while beef output dropped by around 5% to 342,000 tonnes.

With the Turkish population growing by 14% since 2000, demand for beef has risen while output remains constrained. As a result, the Turkish authorities have decided to keep the import tariff duty for carcases of beef and lamb (half and quarter) lower at 30% compared to the traditional level of 225%.

This news should allow further strengthening of trade between Turkey and the EU in the meat sector.

Since Turkey reduced import tariffs last October, the country has imported around 22,000 tonnes in the space of two months according to GTIS data with the vast majority of this supplied by Europe.

Shipments of beef from Poland and Germany accounted for 76% of total imports over the period.