May 26, 2008

Japan markets report growing preference for US beef

The Japanese wholesale markets recently showed a growing demand for US beef, particularly yakiniku or the Japanese/Korean style barbeque cuts.

Daiei, a major Japanese retailer, started selling a wider range of US beef this week, supported by demand.

A survey by the Foodservice Industry Research Institute of Japan indicated that only 35 percent of respondents said they have no intention of buying US beef, against 57 percent last year.

Beef trading was mostly limited in Japan last week as importers fail to match market prices.

Monthly exports to Japan as of May 18 totalled 18,143 tonnes swt, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported.