December 4, 2007

Japan's October pork and chicken imports up while beef falls

Japan's beef imports in October declined by 7 percent from the last year, to 36,080 tonnes with Australia leading the shipments by 83 percent or 29,957 tonnes and Japan by 9 percent or 3,396 tonnes, figures from the Japanese Ministry of Finance (MOF) show.

The recent increase in beef CIF (cost in freight) prices suggests reduced returns among the Japanese trade considering relatively unchanged meat prices at retail, as well as at foodservice.

Imports from Australia fell 14 percent on the previous year, while shipments from the US also declined from last month's 3,749 tonnes. Imports from New Zealand increased 26 percent, to 1,900 tonnes and Canada both increased their shares, by reaching (up 26 percent on 2006) and 336 tonnes (up 20 percent), respectively.

Imports by cut data revealed continuing demand for shoulder and butt cuts (36 percent of total imports), as well as briskets (27 percent), although brisket seemed to have lost the rapid volume growth that it had maintained since the US return last year.

On the other hand, the country's pork imports increased by 13 percent, to 63,533 tonnes, alongside with chicken imports that showed another sharp rise of 62 percent, to 33,664 tonnes, largely due to the unusually low volume in 2006, as well as forecast price increases from Brazil.