July 5, 2007

US beef imports to Thailand this year may double

Thailand's beef imports from the US this year may double or even triple from 44.05 tonnes in 2006 as Thailand's booming tourism is seen to welcome due 14.8 million foreigners this year, according to Eric Shoon, Asian director of the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Though it is expensive compared to pork and chicken, beef has a strong following in Thailand with the help of the growing number of Japanese restaurants and higher purchasing power of Thai's upper class consumers, said Shoon.

The USMEF is a non-profit organisation under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Thailand has banned US beef two years due to mad cow disease and resumed imports in 2006 with initial shipments of 44 tonnes.

Shoon said that the biggest market for US beef in Southeast Asia was the Philippines, but Thailand and Vietnam are also emerging as big market potentials with the latter becoming a popular tourist destination.

To promote American beef, he said aggressive campaigns would be staged for chefs in leading restaurants and steak houses, including training courses in preparing American food.