May 2, 2008

Japan beef imports down 3 percent in March

Japan's beef imports for March totalled 40,459 tonnes swt, down 3 percent from the same month on-year, according to the Ministry of Finance.

Shipments from Australia decreased by 6 percent to 33,709 tonnes, accounting for 83 percent of total beef imports.

Imports of chilled beef from Australia declined 17 percent to 15,056 tonnes, but frozen beef shipments increased 5 percent to 18,653 tonnes.

Beef from the US grew 24 percent to 2,747 tonnes. Chilled meat from the US increased 77 percent from 889 tonnes last year to 1,577 tonnes, demonstrating the US' stronger presence at retail compared with a year ago. The weaker US dollar also helped Japanese importers.

The supply of suitable US beef for Japan is forecast to go up as more cattle under 21 months become available in spring and summer.