Weekly U.S. Beef Export Sales Surge
During the week of June 13-19, 2008, U.S. beef export sales exceeded those for the same week in 2003 by 12%, reaching 14,700 metric tons (32.4 million pounds). 2003 was the last year that the U.S. was free of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, or “mad cow” disease).
Exports of U.S. beef are continuing to follow an upward trend. In particular, the beef market in Russia continues to expand, offering further growth potential for the competitively priced U.S. beef. Sales to Japan, Taiwan, and Canada also increased during this period.
Summary of exports by country of destination (excerpted from report):
- Mexico: up 4% to 110,424 metric tons (243.4 million pounds)
- Canada: up 50% to 36,477 metric tons (80.4 million pounds)
- Japan: up 76% to 22,833 metric tons (50.3 million pounds)
- Vietnam: up 583% to 18,090 metric tons (39.9 million pounds)
- Taiwan: up 48% to 11,316 metric tons (24.9 million pounds)
- Russia: 4,056 metric tons (8.9 million pounds) compared to 351 metric tons (773,815 pounds) during the same period in 2003
- Albania: up 139% to 3,376 metric tons (7.4 million pounds)
- Moldova: up 289% to 2,741 metric tons (6 million pounds)
- EU-27: up 277% to 886 metric tons (1.9 million pounds) compared to 235 metric tons (518,081 pounds)
- Egypt: 1,191 metric tons (2.6 million pounds) compared to zero last year
- Peru: up 145% to 485 metric tons (1.1 million pounds)
- Philippines: up 94% to 750 metric tons (1.6 million pounds)
- UAE: up 72% to 336 metric tons (740,746 pounds)