August 17, 2007

Japan's beef supply per capita declines

Japan's meat supply per capita, one indicator of meat consumption, decreased by 0.5 kilogramme (kg) in 2006 to 28.0 kg, according to data released by Japan's Ministry of Agriculutre, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

Beef supply was down from 5.6kg to 5.5kg, while chicken was up from 10.5kg to 10.6kg.

Before the mad cow disease outbreak in 2001, beef supply per capita peaked in 2000 at 7.6kg. Out of the total meat supply in 2000, the volume ratio of major proteins was beef 26 percent, chicken 35 percent, and pork 37 percent. In 2006, it changed to 20 percent, 38 percent and 41 percent, respectively.

Seafood supply in 2006 totalled 32.4kg per capita - down 2.2kg or 6 percent from the previous year, and 19 percent lower compared with 40.2kg per capita in 2001.

According to MAFF's paper, "Basic Policy on Measures Related to Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas" (revised in March 2005), the ministry's target is for beef supply per capita to increase to 7.7kg by 2015 (similar to the 2000 peak), with a self-sufficiency rate of 39 percent. The beef self-sufficiency rate in 2006 was 43 percent - no change from 2005.