July 6, 2007

EU imports and exports less beef in Q1 2007
 

EU fresh, chilled and frozen beef imports totalled 74,000 tonnes in the first quarter, down 4 percent compared with the same period last year.

Brazilian, Argentine and Uruguayan beef accounted for the bulk of the imports at 62 percent, 20 percent and 9 percent respectively. Australia came in sixth largest among the list of beef suppliers to the EU, catering only to the small high quality beef market segment within the bloc.

EU beef exports in the first quarter dropped as well by 48 percent on-year to 14,100 tonnes. A steady fall in the bloc's beef production and increasing competition from Brazilian beef in the Russian market, have changed the EU from a net exporter to a net importer of beef over the past five years.