July 16, 2004

Canadian Beef Imports Down

According to recent statistics from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, through June 26, 2004, Canada imported 36,504 MT of beef. This was 73.3 percent less than the same period a year ago.

New Zealand has replaced Uruguay as Canada's primary source for beef. Specifically, as of June 26, Canada's beef imports from New Zealand totaled 15,056 MT. Although this was down 51.9 percent from last year, New Zealand had a 41.2 percent share of Canada's beef import market. Canada's beef imports from Uruguay were 54.1 percent less than last year, equaling 13,096 MT.

Through June 26, Canada imported 4,848 MT of beef from the U.S. This was 89.9 percent less than a year ago. The U.S. exhibited the most notable decrease in Canada's beef imports due to Canada's new import regulations, which require U.S. slaughter facilities to segregate beef from cattle over and under 30 months of age.

Canada's beef imports from Australia were down 89.6 percent from last year, amounting to 2,556 MT.

Source:  AMS/USDA