October 19, 2006

Indian beef exports to increase

Indian beef and buffalo meat production is expected to increase by 5.2 percent, to 2.5 million tonnes, in 2007, thanks to growing export demand, according to a USDA forecast.

Buffalo meat, also known as 'carabeef', represents the majority of Indian domestic production.

Most of Indian beef production consists of buffalo meat, or what is known as 'carabeef'.

2006 carabeef exports are expected to increase by 11 percent to 690,000 tonnes,

Markets such as Africa and the Commonwealth Independent States, and traditional markets such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Middle East are expected to account for most of the increase.

Most carabeef exports to South Asian countries are used in processed products such as sausages and salami.

Carabeef exports for calendar year 2007 are forecast to rise 9 percent to 750,000 tonnes due to continued growth in demand and the newly opened Pakistan market.

According to the USDA, 90 percent of Indian carabeef exports are boneless cuts, and 10percent carcases.

There are 14 plants approved by the Indian Agriculture and Processed Food Exports Development Authority (APEDA), which are HACCP and/or ISO 9000 compliant, exporting meat.