Australian beef exports to Japan down 3.9% in May

Wednesday 04th June, 05:17 AM JST

SYDNEY —

Australian beef exports to Japan in May fell 3.9% from a year earlier to 34,768 tons, Meat and Livestock Australia reported Tuesday. Of the total, high-valued grain-fed beef accounted for 13,895 tons, down 15.1%. But exports of cheaper grass-fed beef increased 5.3% to 20,874 tons.

The total exports in May were divided into exports of 14,696 tons of chilled beef, down 15%, and 20,072 tons of frozen beef, up 6.2%. Frozen beef exports grew as Japanese companies stepped up purchases of affordable beef products, Miho Kondo, MLA’s market analyst, said.

JCN

8 Comments

taj at 10:03 AM JST - 4th June

Grass-grazed increased while grain-fed decreased. Great news! If people feel the need to eat meat, I'm glad to see their increasingly choosing the more ecologically viable natural version.
Hughgarse at 11:08 AM JST - 4th June

It:s only because of the serious drought in Auz.. grain is through the roof.
ihope2eatwhales at 12:29 PM JST - 4th June

I believe demand for Australian beef has decreased.
westurn at 04:28 PM JST - 4th June

Like Duhhhh ! Of course Aussie beef exports to Japan are down... Because ???

"Frozen beef exports grew as Japanese companies stepped up purchases of affordable beef products, Miho Kondo, MLA’s market analyst, said."

And who is selling "affordable beef products" ? Yep the Americans ! Odd that this story fails to mention that. Fact, American beef continues to increase it's market share at the expense of Australian beef ! This, despite the ongoing media campaign against the product ! Moo !
ihope2eatwhales at 06:03 PM JST - 4th June

I believe Aussie beef is very cheap, often poor quality product. I avoid it.

I checked MLA homepage. Please see the following text:

"Australian beef currently dominates the low value end of the food service market, but has been less successful in the high value end. However, continuing economic tough times in Japan offer opportunities as operators try to reduce costs whilst maintaining product quality."

http://www.mla.com.au/NR/rdonlyres/9FC481F1-1EAE-4070-9EF7-35ECE4886F7D/0/0106FoodserviceSummaryv2.pdf
Zen_Builder at 06:08 PM JST - 4th June

Got to agree US-Beef is not all that cheap here. Not even at Seiyu(Walmart owned).

Maybe Costco, Carrefour, etc but those are fairly remote and you need a car to get there.
Bovinus at 09:52 PM JST - 4th June

Yea, grain-fed beef is messed up. We could feed ten times the number of people if we just ate the grain ourselves, and save rainforests through decreased demand.

Australia has never had a case of mad cow disease, unlike every other first world country, so I think their beef is high quality. Certainly higher than US beef but it's all basically the same.
romulus3 at 10:35 PM JST - 6th June

well royal host in osaka delivers a mean angus beef steak. romulus enjoys it much more than the slither of Japanese prime beef other places offer...