Cattle Update: Update On Canadian Beef Exports
Beef exports to the end of April are down 23% compared with the first four months of 2005. Exports are currently sitting at 121,000 tonnes, down from 158,000 tonnes a year ago. Prior to BSE, exports in the first four months of 2002 totaled 163,000 tonnes. In 2002 all beef exports would have been eligible but today just beef from under thirty month cattle to key countries is accepted. The smaller exports are a reflection of the smaller kill levels posted to date in 2006.
The US is by far the largest recipient of Canadian beef this year with over 83% of beef exports heading that direction. The next closest country is Mexico at 9% followed by Hong Kong and Macau at 4%. Beef exports into the US are down 18% at 100,000 tonnes. In 2002, by this point in time, 121,500 tonnes would have been exported. Mexican trade is running less than half of what it was a year ago as higher Canadian beef prices have made US product more competitive. To April 2006 11,000 tonnes of beef have been exported to Mexico which would compare with 21,000 tonnes in 2002 or 23,500 tonnes in 2005.
Japanese trade is off to a slow start for the under 21 month product. In four months in 2006 to date 272 tonnes have been shipped or roughly 68 tonnes per month. In 2002 exports to Japan were 7500 tonnes and in 2001 they were 9,000 tonnes. The significant restrictions for exporting to Japan have undoubtedly hampered trade.
Beef exports to the end of April are down 23% compared with the first four months of 2005. Exports are currently sitting at 121,000 tonnes, down from 158,000 tonnes a year ago. Prior to BSE, exports in the first four months of 2002 totaled 163,000 tonnes. In 2002 all beef exports would have been eligible but today just beef from under thirty month cattle to key countries is accepted. The smaller exports are a reflection of the smaller kill levels posted to date in 2006.
The US is by far the largest recipient of Canadian beef this year with over 83% of beef exports heading that direction. The next closest country is Mexico at 9% followed by Hong Kong and Macau at 4%. Beef exports into the US are down 18% at 100,000 tonnes. In 2002, by this point in time, 121,500 tonnes would have been exported. Mexican trade is running less than half of what it was a year ago as higher Canadian beef prices have made US product more competitive. To April 2006 11,000 tonnes of beef have been exported to Mexico which would compare with 21,000 tonnes in 2002 or 23,500 tonnes in 2005.
Japanese trade is off to a slow start for the under 21 month product. In four months in 2006 to date 272 tonnes have been shipped or roughly 68 tonnes per month. In 2002 exports to Japan were 7500 tonnes and in 2001 they were 9,000 tonnes. The significant restrictions for exporting to Japan have undoubtedly hampered trade.
