November 5, 2007

Australia remains biggest beef exporter to South Korea

Australia remains the biggest beef exporter to South Korea, chunking a 74.7 percent market share, figures from the Korea International Trade Association show.

South Korea's beef imports from Australia in September however fell 18.3 percent from August and 28.4 percent from September 2006 to 11,619 tonnes. During the first three quarters of 2007, South Korea imported 114,301 tonnes of beef from Australia. Beef imports from New Zealand during September equalled 2,136 tonnes, 48.6 percent less than the previous month and 26.1 percent less than September 2006. Additionally, this was the lowest single month volume since January 2004.

Total imports of fresh, chilled beef is at 3,428 tonnes while imports of frozen beef are at 14,942 tonnes, accounting for 81.3 percent of the total. 

Year-to-date beef imports from New Zealand were 7.2 percent below a year ago, amounting to 34,112 tonnes. During September, South Korea imported 4,378 tonnes of beef from the US, up 77.7 percent over August. During the first three quarters of 2007, South Korea's beef imports from the US reached 10,519 tonnes, while imports remained banned from the US during the same timeframe during 2006. Overall, South Korea's total beef imports during the first three quarters of the year equalled 162,116 tonnes, 4.6 percent greater than the corresponding period a year ago. In the meantime, during September, South Korea imported 22,120 tonnes of pork, which was 21.7 percent lower than the previous month and was 16 percent lower than September 2006. Also, this was the lowest single month total since November 2005.

In September, South Korea's pork imports from the US fell 20.1 percent from August and 31.7 percent from September 2006 to 4,744 tonnes. This was the lowest single month volume since September 2005. During the first three quarters of 2007, South Korea imported 64,916 tonnes of pork from the US, which was 5.7 percent above the same period a year ago. The US was South Korea's main source of pork with 25.8 percent of the total imports. Pork imports from Canada during September totalled 4,227 tonnes, down 22.5 percent from the previous month and down 23.9 percent from September 2006. Total year-to-date pork imports from Canada were 5 percent more than a year ago, amounting to 46,919 tonnes.

South Korea imported 3,857 tonnes of pork from Chile, 9.7percent lower than the previous month but was 19.6 percent higher than September 2006. Year-to-date pork exports to Chile totalled 31,763 tonnes, 41.9 percent higher than last year. Overall, South Korea's total pork imports during the first three quarters of the year equalled 252,087 tonnes, 10.7 percent above the same period a year ago.