June 12, 2008

US beef exports surge 30 percent  
   
 

US beef exports in the first four months of 2008 witnessed a 29.5-percent jump on-year to 600.1 million pounds, with value rising 39.9 percent on-year to US$944.5 million.

Beef exports, not including variety meat, for the first four months of 2008 climbed 36 percent to 358.1 million pounds, with its value also increasing 39 percent to US$704.2 million.

Beef variety meat exports went up 22 percent to 242 million pounds.

Beef and beef variety meat represented 9 percent of US production volume in the first four months of 2008, according to Erin Daley, manager of Research and Analysis of US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Mexico is the top market for US beef, with shipments totalling 148.2 million pounds at a value of US$439 million. Beef exports to Mexico rose 14 percent this year.

Daley said US beef exports are rebounding at a healthy rate considering that the closed South Korean and Chinese markets and the limited Japanese markets.