March 2, 2007

 

USMEF: US pork exports to grow in 2007

 

 

Concerns over bird flu and mad cow disease is expected to boost US pork exports by 6.2 percent in 2007, with much of the growth in Asia, the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said Thursday (Mar 1).

 

The 6.2 percent estimated jump in 2007 would come on top of the 9 percent jump to a record US$2.8 billion seen in 2006.

 

Phil Seng, president and chief executive of the USMEF, said in a teleconference Thursday he is "bullish on pork exports" and "expects great things" from South Korea in 2007. U.S. pork exports are seen extending their record string to 15 years, with South Korea increasing 25 percent, Russia 40 percent and Japan 2 percent.

 

Seng said pork exports have benefited from bovine spongiform encephalopathy, known as mad cow disease, and bird flu concerns.

 

"Bird flu has been a major impetus for pork exports, as it has been felt down the whole spine of Asia," Seng said. "It's a more important issue than BSE."

 

Japan is expected to remain the leading importer of US pork on a value basis, while Mexico is seen as top in terms of volume. Total 2007 pork exports are projected to be 1,338,000 tonnes.

 

Seng said USMEF will launch a spring campaign for summer chilled pork grilling products in Japan. The group is also pursuing South American and Caribbean markets. Russian pork imports are expected to jump 100 percent after quotas are lifted in that country in 2009.

 

But beef export growth has lagged behind that of pork.

 

"Beef is a bit more schizophrenic," Seng said. "Two billion dollars in beef exports is good, but it could be a lot better if Japan and South Korea were more open."

 

Japan and South Korea have each partially lifted a ban on US beef, which was instituted after mad cow disease was found in a Washington state dairy cow in late December 2003.

 

But since July 27, when imports of US boneless beef from cattle 20 months or younger was allowed, Japan is still testing all of the boxes of beef sent there, he said. He estimated it takes 20 to 30 people four or five hours to inspect one container of beef.

 

Seng said he is optimistic for exports of beef to Japan later this year. Considering the amount of beef sent to Japan, there have been few problems, he said. Seng also said he thinks there will be one more round of audits on US beef plants to reassure Japanese consumers.