Japan Keeps Buying U.S. Pork and Beef
Meat exports continue upswing even as economy slows food spending in Japan.
Compiled by staff
Published: Feb 25, 2010
Japan was again a key trading partner for the U.S. beef and pork industries in 2009, outperforming the market and either maintaining or increasing U.S. beef and pork imports even as total retail and foodservice spending in Japan slumped in the global economic slowdown.
In calendar year 2009, U.S. pork sales in Japan, the top market for pork export value, nearly matched the all-time value record set one year ago. The latest figure is $1.54 billion. In this same environment, sales of U.S. beef in Japan ended the year 23% higher than the previous year in both volume and value while the global market for all beef exporters fell 16%.
U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Phil Seng, says that one of the keys to growing market share for U.S. beef and pork in this economic environment has been to provide products that deliver tremendous versatility and value.
The United States now holds 46% of the imported pork market share in Japan and 72% of the chilled pork market. Since reentering the market after BSE, U.S. beef market share is also on the rise. The U.S. captured 20% of the market in 2009, compared to just 10% two years earlier.
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