April 17, 2006

US eyes Middle East as potential beef export markets
 

US beef producers should look to the Middle East as an export market with "great potential", the US Meat Export Federation said in its press release dated Apr 14.

"Most markets (there) have re-opened to US beef and its economic growth and business opportunities are expanding rapidly," said the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the US red meat industry; it is partially funded by the USDA.

Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan, it pointed out, had re-opened its markets to US beef last June, ending the December 2003 bans following the first discovery of mad cow disease in the US.

In oil-rich Kuwait, income have surged to a record high of US$38.3 billion in the last 10 months, a 55-percent increase over the same period last year, according to the Finance Ministry of Kuwait.

Furthermore, the country's dry climate limits agricultural development, resulting in its high dependence on food imports. Thus, despite the Kuwaiti beef market being open to US imports for just six months last year, US beef and beef variety meat imports to Kuwait stood at 1,412 tonnes, valued at US$4.9 million.

USMEF also reported an increasing acceptance and popularity of western-style meals such as beef tenderloin, rib-eye, strip loin and roast beef in high-end Western style restaurants and five-star hotels in Kuwait and other Middle Eastern countries like UAE and Jordan. Consumers are becoming more affluent and looking to buy better quality items, the association said.

But the popularity of US meat products is not just limited to affluent customers.

"US beef processed items are also sought after by casual restaurants, such as TGI Friday's and Hardee's to satisfy the taste for American hamburgers and beef franks," USMEF pointed out.

"The Middle East is a market with great potential for US beef producers," it affirmed.