May 3, 2004

 

 

Japan Beef Export Values Rise, Volumes Fall

 

Japan has begun its annual Golden Week period, when Japanese traditionally take holidays. Although beef purchasing for Golden Week was completed well in advance of the holiday, demand has continued to be solid for produce due to arrive in Japan well after Golden Week - a usually quiet period.

 

Export prices for grassfed fullsets were steady this week, at 202 U.S. cents a lb.

Prices on the wholesale market strengthened for Australian beef, with grassfed fullsets increasing 15 yen to 815 yen a kg, while short-fed fullsets increased 30 yen to 975 yen a kg.

 

Prices for Australian tongues continued to push higher, increasing 125 yen to 2,300 yen a kg. Tongue prices have increased 117 percent since December when it was trading at 1,060 yen a kg, as tongues were an item traditionally sourced from the United States.

 

Exports of edible offal to Japan have increased significantly in 2004, with exports totalling 5,686 tonnes, up 80 percent in the first quarter of 2004 compared to year ago levels.

 

The most significant increases have been seen in exports of thin skirt, with exports increasing 178 percent to 1,211

 

tonnes, livers rising 2,306 percent to 677 tonnes, tails up 475 percent to 339 tonnes and thick skirt increasing 43 percent to 768 tonnes.

 

The value of Australian offal exports has also surged, up 190 percent in the calendar year to February, worth approximately A$20 million and on target to reach a record high for 2004.

 

Australian beef exports to Japan have fallen with 29,135 tonnes of beef imported in March, a drop of 49 percent compared with March 2003, and 21 percent lower than February 2004.

 

Although 26,147 tonnes were imported from Australia, imports of Australian product fell eight percent compared with March 2003.

 

Imports of product from New Zealand were strong with 2,912 tonnes imported, an increase of 106 percent compared with March 2003.

 

Although import volumes from Australia were sluggish, the value of Australian imports has increased significantly. The value of Australian beef imports increased by around two billion yen (A$27 million) or 20 percent in March 2004 compared with March 2003, to total 12 billion yen (A$158 million).

 

The volume of Australian beef imports to Japan is up 15 percent in the calendar year to March, with the value of Australian beef imports up 44 percent, reflecting the increased demand for beef from Australia in 2004.