August 16, 2004

Australian Meat Exports To Japan Soar On US Mad Cow Scare

Australia has benefited from an outbreak of mad cow disease in the U.S. through record meat sales to Japan.

Australian beef exports to Japan increased 25% to more than A$1.75 billion in the fiscal year that ended June 30, the independent meat industry group Meat and Livestock Australia said.

Japan was one of 30 nations which imposed a ban on U.S. beef following the discovery of the first U.S. case of brain-wasting Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease last year. Until then, America was the biggest beef exporter to Japan.

Meat and Livestock Australia Chairman David Crombie said not only were exports of beef to Japan climbing, lamb and mutton exports had also soared.

"Japan has typically been Australia's most valuable beef market for a number of years, but growth in the value of the beef market hit record highs this year, " he said.

"In addition, there has been some unprecedented growth in the area of lamb."

"The main factors behind the surge in Australia's meat and offal exports to Japan have been underlying growth in consumer demand for meat as well as the absence of U.S. beef since December," he added.

Lamb exports to Japan rose 27% to A$50 million, while processed beef exports climbed 138% to A$56 million.

All meat product exports to Japan are at record levels.