Japan's beef consumption in February steady

Japan consumed 64,802 tonnes of boneless beef in February 2010, only 404 tonnes less than the same month last year, and 7% higher than the five-year average.

The consumption data by Japan's Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corporation is estimated from the level of inputs, which include imports and domestic production, minus the remaining stocks by the end of the month.

Beef imports into Japan during February were only 85% of 2009 levels, but relatively firm consumption of imported beef – only 2% less than a year ago to 37,682 tonnes – resulted in a fall in imported beef stocks in the market at 60,353 tonnes, down 13% on-year.

Domestic beef consumption was also steady, up 1% from last year at 27,120 tonnes.