July 3, 2006

Australian beef import to Singapore rises nearly 30 percent

Beef imports into Singapore for the first five months of the year rose 29 percent compared with the same period in 2005 to reach 7,542 tonnes--according to figures from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

Singapore imports of Australian beef during January to May jumped by 32 percent to 860 tonnes, however, market share was relatively unchanged from 2005, at 11 percent.

New Zealand's beef export to Singapore increased 8 percent, its share of the market fell slightly from 12 percent a year ago to 10 percent in 2006, MLA said.

Singapore lifted the two-year ban on US beef in January 2006.

During the five months from January to May 2006, the country imported only 56 tonnes of US beef, accounting for only one percent of the market.

Brazilian beef, which holds 3 quarters of Singapore's beef market, fell one percent to 75 percent in 2006.

Total Brazilian beef imports into Singapore during the first five months of 2006 increased 26 percent to 5,636 tonnes.

The rise in overall beef consumption was attributed to bird flu, which caused consumers to shun poultry in favour of beef.