US beef exports fall behind on poor market conditions

US beef exports during September failed to perform well, falling 25 percent in volume and 34 percent in value from September 2008, due to trade barriers and difficult global economic conditions.

The US exported 660,459 tonnes of beef valued at US$2.28 billion from January to September, down 12 percent in volume and down 17 percent in value from the same period last year.

Much of the decline was due to weak global demand for beef variety meat, dropping 22 percent in volume and 39 percent in value to 214,717 tonnes and US$378 million, respectively, during the nine-month period.

Muscle cut exports did better, but still trail their 2008 pace by six percent in volume and 11 percent in value.

Shipments to Japan reached 69,945 tonnes at nearly US$360 million, up 22 percent in volume and up 21 percent in value. September exports continued to outperform 2008 but at a slower rate because of the seasonal decline in availability of slaughter cattle under 21 months of age.

Beef exports to Taiwan rebound in September, with exports up 26 percent on-year in volume and 63 percent in value.

Volumes to Hong Kong rocketed by 88 percent on-year in volume and 74 percent in value. For the nine-month period, sales to Hong Kong escalated 110 percent in volume and 78 percent in value.

September exports to Vietnam were down compared to September 2008, but were still up 23 percent in volume and 30 percent in value for the year.

Declines in Mexico, Canada and Russia, however, have offset these encouraging performances. Exports to Mexico are down 28 percent in volume and 36 percent in value compared to the first three quarters of 2008, while exports to Canada are down 10 percent and 15 percent, respectively. Exports to Russia have declined by 47 percent in volume and 69 percent in value, with muscle-cut exports decreasing nearly 80 percent.