Japan's imports of US beef show increase

Imports from the US increased significantly, up 88% from last year to 5,400 tonnes - the highest February volumes since the resumption of US beef imports into Japan in 2006.

Nonetheless, this figure is only 25% of volumes imported in February 2003 (before the BSE outbreak in US).

The large jump in imports from the US was driven by a 206% on-year rise in frozen briskets, totalling 2,708 tonnes. The weak US dollar - depreciating 3% from last year against the Japanese yen - also assisted volumes.

On the other hand, beef imports from Australia fell by 24% on-year to 23,925 tonnes, largely due to the limited availability of products, but also the impact of the higher Australian dollar (up 25% from last year against the Japanese yen) and slow Japanese economy. Japan imported 33,099 tonnes swt of beef in February, down 15% compared with 12 months ago, according to Japan's Ministry of Finance.