November 3, 2006

Philippine beef imports stable to date

Philippine beef imports during the first nine months of 2006 totalled 74,812 tonnes - similar to the same period in 2005.

The majority of Philippine beef imports were for processing. Australian beef imports during the nine-month period fell 33 percent to 5,087 tonnes.

The decline could be attributed to the relatively high price of Australian products, resulting in Philippine importers sourcing more products from New Zealand and Brazil.

Imports of New Zealand beef jumped 41 percent to 5,013 tonnes, accounting for 7 percent of the market. Brazilian beef imports into the Philippines rose 14 percent compared with the same period in 2005, to 20,678 tonnes, representing 28 percent of the market.

India remained the main supplier (57 percent market share) of frozen low value manufacturing beef, with shipments to the market reaching 42,410 tonnes for the nine-month period.