June 14, 2007

US beef exports seen to recuperate this year

After suffering numerous trade blocks from importing countries due to mad cow disease, US beef exports are gradually seeing the light this year as it recovers with a 12,200 metric tonne-shipment as of May 10, the largest volume to date, reports the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

For the first quarter of 2007, US beef exports rose 14 percent in value and volume led by the re-opened markets of South Korea.

However, sales abroad are still less than half of the level prior to the first US case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 2003.

The US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) remains optimistic as it projects US beef exports to return to its pre-BSE levels by December 2010, USMEF president and CEO Phil Seng.