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The rise is attributed to the outbreak of mad cow disease, which has scared consumers away from beef, an MAF official said.

In keeping with the rising demand, pork prices have risen by about 20 percent this year, he said. Domestic supply of pork fell by 3.9 percent in the first four months of this year to 252,000 tons, he said.

Korea suspended the import of U.S. beef following the outbreak of the brain-wasting disease in a farm in Washington State.

Korea had been the third largest importer of U.S. beef, with imports from the United States accounting for 68 percent of the nation's total beef imports last year.

About 60 percent of national beef consumption came from imported beef.

Source: eFeedLink - 7th June 2004