Japanese Pork Imports Rise in October

However, chicken imports showed another sharp rise of 62 per cent, to 33,664 tonnes, largely due to the unusually low volume in 2006, as well as forecast price increases from Brazil.

Japan’s beef imports in October fell by seven per cent from the last year, to 36,080 tonnes. Out of total shipments, 83 per cent (or 29,957 tonnes) were supplied by Australia, and nine per cent (or 3,396 tonnes) by the US according to teh figures released by Japan’s Ministry of Finance – MOF. The recent increase in beef CIF prices suggests reduced returns among the Japanese trade.

Imports from Australia fell 14 per cent on the previous year, while shipments from the US also declined from last month’s 3,749 tonnes.

Imports from New Zealand increased 26 per cent, to 1,900 tonnesand Canada both increased their shares, by reaching (up 26 per cent on 2006) and 336 tonnes (up 20 per cent), respectively.

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

Meat and Livestock Australia said that the Japanese finance ministry's data also included CIF import prices of beef and pork during the April to September 2007 period, chilled beef shoulder and butt import prices increased by eight per cent, and pork (cuts unspecified) by one per cent. This suggests squeezed returns in beef trade among the Japanese industry, considering relatively unchanged meat prices at retail, as well as at foodservice.

ThePigSite News Desk

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