Beef Exports To Middle East Remain Red Hot
US - Last year, US beef exports to the Middle East grew by more than one-third in volume and more than 75 per cent in value – exceeding $260 million.
17 May 2011
1 minute read
With political and social unrest affecting several Middle Eastern countries in 2011, many observers questioned whether US beef exports to the region would continue to grow at such a remarkable pace.
Through the first quarter of the year, however, beef exports to the Middle East have shown no signs of slowing down. Exports are up another 35 per cent in volume and 63 per cent in value compared to their 2010 pace.
US Meat Export Federation Chairman Keith Miller, a farmer-stockman from Great Bend, Kansas, says he is extremely pleased with the strong performance of the Middle Eastern markets, which has helped keep the global value of US beef exports on a record pace so far this year.
He adds that political unrest in Egypt was of particular concern for him, because it is by far the largest export market in the region and is an especially strong destination for beef livers and other variety meat – products that command relatively low domestic demand. But so far in 2011, variety meat exports to Egypt are up more than 50 per cent in value to $28.3 million, while muscle cut export value to Egypt has nearly doubled to $12.4 million.
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