May 14, 2010

Joel Haggard, USMEF Senior Vice President for the Asia Pacific region, reports that exports of US beef is currently increasing at a very strong pace as against the previous year.

Haggard has been reviewing the latest beef import data for these countries, and with the official Q1 2010 beef export results due for release by USDA later this week, the outlook looks very bright in key Asian markets.

Imports from across the globe are up in markets such as South Korea and Hong Kong, but US shipments are rising at a much faster pace than those from other major exporters.

Japan's total beef imports have actually declined compared to last year, but its imports from the US have increased sharply.

Haggard also notes that Taiwan's imports of US beef are surging upward, despite the recent controversy over expanded market access. He says US bone-in beef cuts, now allowed after an absence of six years, have been well-accepted in Taiwan.