March 5, 2004

Australian Beef Exports To Japan Up In February

Australia beef exports to Japan surged in February from January in the wake of the discovery in the U.S. late last year of a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, according to official data issued Friday.
 
Australian beef exports to Japan jumped to 35,016 metric tons, up from 23,701 tons in January and up from 23,870 tons in February 2003.
 
Japan and many other nations banned beef imports from the U.S. in the wake of the BSE discovery, roiling global markets and prompting a search for alternative sources.
 
Australia is a major global supplier of beef in an annual trade worth around A$4 billion, with Japan and the U.S. the two big markets.
 
January is usually the quietest month for Australian exporters, with many major processors shut for annual holidays and maintenance, limiting the usefulness of comparisons with January figures.
 
The official figures, issued by the government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, show beef exports to Japan in the first two months of 2004 jumped 44% to 58,717 tons from 40,808 tons in the year- earlier period.
 
Beef exports to the U.S. in February rose to 20,523 tons from 13,766 tons in January, both down from 26,844 tons in February 2003.
 
Exports last month took total shipments to the U.S. in the first two months of this year to 34,289 tons, down 24% from 45,077 tons in the year- earlier period.
 
Total beef exports in February of 67,266 tons were up from 45,965 tons in January, but down from 71,191 tons in February 2003.
 
Total beef exports in the first two months of this year of 113,231 tons were down from 122,831 tons in the year-earlier period.
 
Australian ranchers are rebuilding herds and taking advantage of rejuvenated pastures to grow beasts after a savage drought that began early in 2002 and only ended in some areas over the past several months forced many to sell down herds.
 
Among other major markets, exports to South Korea reached 5,211 tons in February from 3,580 tons in January, both down from 6,057 tons in February 2003.
 
Exports to Taiwan in February of 2,306 tons were up from 1,754 tons in January, but little changed from 2,300 tons in February last year.
 
The trade to Canada continues on its recent dismal path after the discovery there midyear of a BSE case caused demand for imported beef to slump, with exports in February just 335 tons, down from 4,794 tons in February last year.