January 15, 2007

Australian imports to South Korea surge in wake of US beef ban

Australia received an unexpected boost in its beef exports to South Korea in 2006 following the latter's ban on beef imports from the US and Canada on account of mad cow disease fears.

Overseas beef imports for South Korea went up by 26 percent last year to 179,405 tonnes compared to the year before, with Australian beef accounting for a major share in this.

Beef imports from Australia last year were 137,015 tonnes.

Even after South Korea lifted a ban on US beef imposed in 2003 owing to BSE fears, it has turned back three US beef shipments. This was due to the fact that US beef shipments violated the condition set by South Korea of buying only boneless beef. Prior to the 2003 import ban, South Korea was the third largest US beef market, with annual purchases totalling US$850 million.