November 30, 2007

US September beef imports down 16.5 percent on-month

Figures from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture show that US beef and veal imports in September totalled 68,687 tonnes, down 16.5 percent from the previous month but was nearly unchanged from September 2006 as imports were being affected by a depreciating US dollar.

More specifically, fresh, chilled beef imports equalled 26,334 tonnes, which was 7.4 percent lower than the previous month and was unchanged from September 2006. Frozen beef imports equalled 33,684 tonnes, which was 24.1 percent less than August and was little changed from September 2006. During September, US beef imports from Australia fell 14.6 percent from the previous month to 21,745 MT.

In the first three quarters of the year, beef imports from Australia totalled 222,045 tonnes, 1.5 percent above last year. Australia was the largest beef import market for the US with 28.1 percent of the total. The US imported 21,600 tonnes of beef from Canada, 5.8 percent down than August. Total year-to-date beef imports from Canada equalled 212,724 tonnes, 2.5 percent less than a year ago. Beef imports from New Zealand during September fell 36.3 percent from the previous month to 6,601 tonnes. Year-to-date imports of beef from New Zealand were 6.6 percent less than a year ago, amounting to 146,039 tonnes. During September, the US imported 7,034 tonnes of beef from Uruguay, which was 30.2 percent lower than August. Total year-to-date beef imports from Uruguay equalled 103,869 tonnes, 32.1 percent greater than a year ago. Overall, US total beef and veal imports during the first three quarters of 2007 reached 791,011 tonnes, 2.9 percent above the corresponding period a year ago.