August 20, 2010

Japan's per capita beef supply rises in FY 2009

According to Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the country's overall beef supply on a per capita basis lifted 0.2 kg on-year to 5.9 kg/head during its 2009 fiscal year (April 2009-March 2010).

Per capita beef supply peaked in the 2000 JFY (Japanese fiscal year), at 7.6kg/head, but declined after the outbreak of BSE in Japan in 2001, and in the US in 2003. The lift in the 2009 JFY was largely the result of a weaker Australian dollar during the first half of 2009 and the subsequent fall in beef import costs, as well as a growth in US beef imports into Japan.

The beef self sufficiency rate in the 2009 JFY was 43%, down 1% from the previous year due to an increase in beef import volumes.