June 20, 2006

South Korean beef imports rise in May

South Korea's beef imports have rising as the delay in the resumption of the US beef trade continues, according to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Total beef imports for May were up 17 percent from April and 23 percent above the same month last year. Imports for the first five months of 2006 rose 14 percent compared to the same period in 2005.

Chilled imports gained popularity rising 41 percent to 9,703 tonnes for the first five months of 2006 compared to last year.

68 percent of total frozen beef and 94 percent of total chilled beef to South Korea between January and May came from Australia.

Although it is still at low levels, Mexican beef exports to Korea have been steadily increasing. As at the end of May, total imports from Mexico were at 2,610 tonnes, compared with 3,008 tonnes for the whole of 2005.

In related news, the Korean government has sent 10 members from Korean Rural Economic Institute (KREI), National Agricultural Co-operative Federation (NACF), Korea Meat Industries Association and other related groups to inspect the US livestock industry in preparation for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks.

The team would be divided into cattle, pig, poultry and dairy representative groups and carry out on-site inspections. They would also be meeting with USDA officials to gain an understanding of US livestock requests for the FTA.