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U.S. beef exports decreased and imports increased during the first six months of the year. Higher U.S. beef prices and strong demand has resulted in larger U.S. beef imports. U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports during the first half of 2001 decreased 11.3 percent in volume and 15.8 percent in value compared to exports during the same time in 2000. U.S. imports of beef and beef variety meats increased 5.2 percent in tonnage and 13 percent in value during the first half of 2001, compared to the same time in 2000. Exports through June 2001 totaled 563.4 thousand metric tons valued at nearly $1.565 billion. Traditional primary export markets of Japan, Mexico, Canada and the Republic of South Korea accounted for 82.7 percent of export tonnage and nearly 90 percent of the export value. Exports to Mexico continued to grow after rebounding sharply during 1999 and 2000. Recession in Japan and slow growth in the United States are impacting the Korean economy. Beef exports to Japan and Korea declined as those economies slowed and as the dollar remained strong relative to the yen and won. Major suppliers continue to be Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with those three countries accounting for approximately 89 percent of the imported beef tonnage and value. Australia has surpassed Canada so far this year as the largest supplier of U.S. beef imports. © For more information on this topic, contact Chuck Lambert, Center for Public Policy, clambert@beef.org or 202-347-0228. |
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