October 30, 2007

South Korea may double US beef imports next year

South Korea is expected to import about 30,000 tonnes of US beef this year and double this amount the next, according to USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service office in Seoul.

The country's overall beef imports would reach 280,000 tonnes in 2007 and 300,000 tonnes in 2008. If so, this would mean that US beef would account for 20 percent of South Korea's beef imports next year.

The increase is expected as US exporters and importers become more familiar with the Korean inspection system and avoid banned parts in their shipments, the report said.

South Korea does not allow bone-in beef, but the US would continue to work towards acceptance.

Meanwhile, the country's overall pork imports is expected to decline from an expected 400,000 tonnes in 2007 to 350,000 tonnes in 2008.

US pork exports to South Korea is expected to drop from the expected 120,000 tonnes this year to 97,000 tonnes in 2008.

The report said consumption of pork and poultry, which rose as a result of the ban on US in past years is expected to resume as US beef becomes available.