January 5, 2007

Australia beef exports up 5 percent in 2006
 

Australian beef exports in 2006 rose nearly 5 percent to 953,932 boneless tonnes compared with 2005.

A large increase in export volumes to South Korea more than compensated for a modest decrease to the US.

Total exports to South Korea rose 41 percent in 2006 to 150,000 tonnes, while exports to the US fell almost 8 percent to 295,257 tonnes. Meanwhile, exports to Japan inched up 0.2 percent from the previous year's volume, according to a Dow Jones news report.

Australia is the world's second-largest beef exporter, next only to Brazil.

Australia beef exports have been growing since Japan and South Korea banned US beef imports following an outbreak of BSE-related disease in the US in 2003. Even after lifting the ban, the two countries have not been able to resolve issues relating to beef imports from the US completely.