Korean Jan-Apr beef imports up 16%

Korea's beef imports increased 16% year-on-year over the January to April period this year, totalling 80,522 tonnes swt.

Frozen beef imports grew 15%, while chilled imports increased by 25% compared with last year (KITA).

Imports of Australian beef rose 6% from January to April this year compared with the same period last year - totalling 41,836 tonnes swt. While volumes were up, Australia's imported beef market share decreased to 52%, down five percetage points on last year.

Beef imports from the US increased to 24,513 tonnes swt this year (up 45% year-on-year). Imports from New Zealand lifted 11% year-on-year, totalling 13,231 tonnes swt. Over the period, US and New Zealand share of Korea's imported beef market totalled 30% and 16%, respectively.

Meanwhile, South Korea became the third-largest market for American beef exporters in the first quarter, the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said Thursday (May 27).

According to USMEF data, US beef shipments to the country reached 18,763 tonnes during the three-month period, surpassing 18,487 tonnes sent to Japan, which had been the third-largest importer in terms of volume.