Upturn In Japan Beef Consumption
JAPAN - Japan consumed 80,838 tonnes (boneless equivalent) of beef in October, up 17 per cent from last year. The strong increase was largely the result of increased imports (up 33 per cent on 2008).In addition to the shipments that arrived during the month, it appears that some frozen imported stocks that had been kept in the bonded warehouse were also cleared and distributed in the market, as Japan prepared for the high meat consumption season (October to December), according to analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia.
The upbeat performance of the western style fast food (hamburger outlets – volume users of frozen Australian beef) and reduced prices at retail sector (main buyers of Australian chilled beef) also assisted the growth of imported beef consumption. As a result, Meat and Livestock Australia reported that imported beef consumption surged 27 per cent from 12 months ago to 48,571 tonnes – the highest volume since December 2003.
Japanese domestic beef consumption also rose four per cent to 32,267 tonnes. In the calendar year to October, Japan’s beef consumption reached 690,732 tonnes, up three per cent compared with the same time last year.
TheCattleSite News Desk