September 1, 2020

AHDB: Japan imports 351,000 tonnes of beef in first half of 2020

Japan has imported "modest quantities of UK beef so far" in 2020, amounting to 1,500 tonnes worth, close to £5 million (US$6.7 million), said Duncan Wyatt, lead analyst (red meat) of  the United Kingdom's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Overall, Japan brought in 351,000 tonnes of beef in the first half of this year, a 4% increase over 2019.

"The United States and Australia typically vie for market share, and each supply around 40-45% of Japan's import needs. The US has been increasing its volumes and has supplied 151,000 tonnes of beef to Japan so far this year, 9% more than in the same period of 2019," Wyatt noted.

The US and Australia also dominate the South Korean market. "In the first half of 2020, there was a 1% drop in beef imports compared with 2019, to 250,000 tonnes. Here again, the US has been increasing its market share," Wyatt said,

In Asia, China takes the top spot in imported beef demand. Wyatt pointed out that China's position "is driven in the short term by its need for imported protein in the wake of African swine fever, but also longer term by growing national per capita income."

He added: "In the first half of 2020, Chinese trade data shows imports of over one million tonnes of beef, 41% more than a year ago. South American beef has the greatest market share, with Brazil at 35%, Argentina 22% and Uruguay 12%. China's imports from Brazil, in particular, have grown by 134% year on year to 350,000 tonnes; this trend may well be set to continue as Brazil deals with (the COVID-19) coronavirus and its huge internal market for beef contracts."

US and South American  nations will continue to occupy the leading spot in meeting Asia's meat demand.

"Recently, Australia has been sending a greater share of its exports to the US itself, reducing the quantities going to either Japan and China. As Australia rebuilds its herd following a prolonged period of drought, it is likely that export volumes overall will continue to decline for a while," Wyatt said.

- AHDB