February 26, 2011

Canada's global beef exports soar in 2010

Canadian beef exports to key export markets in Asia, Mexico and Russia rose 17% in 2010 as compared with a 4% decrease in exports to the US, according to the Canadian Beef Export Federation (CBEF).

In 2010 the Canadian cattle and beef realised a 10,000-tonne (CAD85 million; USD86.93 million) increase in Asia and Mexico and a 5,700-tonne (CAD22 million; USD22.50 million) increase in Russia.

Total Canadian beef exports to these markets jumped from 90,050 tonnes (CAD327 million; USD334.41 million) in 2009 to 105,700 tonnes (CAD426 million; USD435.65 million) in 2010, the release said.

"At a time when overall exports of Canadian beef were up less than 2%, exports to the markets where CBEF is actively promoting Canadian beef are soaring. Prior to BSE in 2003, the market development programmes delivered by the Federation in these markets were building unprecedented demand and success for Canadian beef exports. Those programmes have facilitated our recovery and now are working to recapture market share and sales and build new export success for the Canadian industry," said Gib Drury, CBEF Board Chair.

In a survey of its export members conducted in January 2010, the Federation's Export Members indicated that they expect all future beef export growth to come from international markets outside of the US, the release said.

Specifically, CBEF Export Members forecast that over the next 10 years exports will: fall by 30,000 tonnes to the US; increase by 62,000 tonne to Asia, Mexico and Russia; and, increase by 22,000 tonnes in other markets (primarily Europe and the Middle East).

"CBEF's international marketing expertise is very clearly building value for the Canadian cattle and beef industry," Drury said. "We are increasing export volumes, we are increasing the proportion of high value cuts and we are increasing market share.

The CBEF operates offices in the key international markets of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Mexico.