|
 |
Strategic Market
Profile Report (SMP)
Japan - Beef
Click graph for full SMP |
Market Overview
Beef
Exports to Japan from U.S. beef plants approved under the USDA’s Export Verification program resumed July 27, 2006. As a condition for the resumption of trade, the government of Japan adopted numerous measures to govern the importation of U.S. beef, limiting the supply in the market. Currently, Japanese import regulations permit U.S. bone-in and boneless beef from age/source-verified cattle 20 months of age and under. In 2006, U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports to Japan totaled 13,736 metric tons (mt) valued at $66.4 million. It was predicted that U.S. beef’s return to the marketplace would be confronted with significant negative consumer sentiment and unfavorable media reports. In spite of expected challenges, U.S. beef was well received by many consumers who had anticipated its return.
Strategic Market Profile: Japan - Beef (PDF)
Global Overview: Beef (PDF)
|
Strategic Market
Profile Report (SMP)
Japan - Pork
Click graph for full SMP |
Pork
In 2006, Japan was the number one market for U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports in value and second to Mexico in volume. Twenty seven percent of all pork exports from the United States are destined for Japan. Last year the United States exported 337,373 metric tons (mt) of pork and pork variety meat valued at more than $1.04 billion. Major pork-supplying countries showed declines in exports to Japan last year, with Danish and Canadian pork exports decreasing dramatically. This decline is attributed to Japanese government investigations into illegal frozen pork imports under the gate price system.
|
 |
“Country Gold” Again Captures Imagination of Japanese Consumers
U.S. beef was again a big hit at the 19th Country Gold Music Festival in Kumamoto, Japan. A booth and cowboy-themed “restaurant” at the festival was sponsored by the USMEF and helped generate excitement about U.S. beef among the more than 20,000 attendees.
As it did last year, the USMEF booth proved to be one of the most popular destinations for consumers at the event, and provided more evidence that U.S. beef continues to be popular with many Japanese, according to Greg Hanes, USMEF Japan director. About 800 servings of U.S. ribeye roll - from 40 blocks of ribeye with a specially-formulated “rub” and slowly cooked in three barbecue pits – sold out before the event was finished.
Attendees lined up to buy beef meals an hour before sales were scheduled to start, according to Hanes. The guests were complimentary about the U.S. product and most commented on how delicious it was. The beef plates sold for about $9 per serving. Proceeds from the beef meals sold will be donated to Ashinaga, a well-known Japanese non-profit organization that supports children whose parents have died, become incapable of working or have other financial hardships that make it difficult to send their children to high school or college. Since its founding in 1969 more than 60,000 children have had Ashinaga support to graduate from various schools.
USMEF Insight Articles
Research Is Key To Strong Export Market
Mexican Pork - A Growing Competitor In Japan
To visit the USMEF Japan Web site (in Japanese), go to http://www.americanmeat.jp and http://wecare.jp
|
|
|
Copyright 1996-2008 U.S. Meat Export Federation
|
|
|
