May 17, 2012

EU's beef market has remained strong for 2012 and prices have moved up steadily from July last year while total Japanese frozen pork imports in the first quarter of 2012 were up 6%, compared with the previous year.

The demand for EU beef has been strong at a time when supply has been tight. Declining supplies of prime beef have also contributed to the firm beef market.

France is largest producer, consumer and importer of cow beef in the EU. The country has a major bearing on developments. According to AHDB's European Market Survey, demand has remained firm and cow beef production in the first quarter of 2012 was unchanged on a year earlier.

The Netherlands, the fourth largest cow beef producer and a major importer of processed products, had prices move up by 9% in January to April of 2012, and by the end of the fourth month, prices rose by 13%, compared to a year ago.

In Japan, the rise in pork imports is a result of increase in both fresh/chilled and frozen shipments. The US remained the dominant supplier, responsible for 42% of all pork imports.

Japanese pork production was up four per cent in the first two months of 2012 compared with the previous year. The USDA forecast in April 2012 that Japanese pork production will be one per cent higher in 2012 overall.