March 21, 2006

Beef consumption in Japan increases 6 percent

Beef consumption in Japan during January 2006 rose 6 percent when compared with January 2005, reaching 60,276 tonnes, according to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

MLA said the increase was largely due to a 14-percent increase in imported beef consumption levels, registering at a total of 34,355 tonnes. However, domestic beef consumption declined 3 percent, to 25,921 tonnes.

While January figures show a rise in Japanese beef consumption, total consumption is still low compared to the years before mad cow concerns surfaced in the Japanese market. In January 2001, before the mad cow scare, beef consumption reached 81,329 tonnes, of which 53,922 tonnes were imported.

In January 2006, total pork consumption in Japan declined 3 percent from January 2005 levels, reaching 126,023 tonnes. Conversely, chicken consumption in Japan rose 3 percent to 137,403 tonnes.