Japanese beef imports to rise

Press, 3 February 1984, Page 25

Japanese beef imports to rise

The recent announcement of an increase in the Japanese beef import quota signals the first real growth in the market for several years.

Japan’s beef import quota for the 1983-84 year ending March 31 amounts to 141,000 tonnes. This is 6000 tonnes above the quota for the 1982-83 year. An agricultural economist with the Ministry of Agri-

culture and Fisheries, Mr Pat McCabe said part of the growth in the quota stemmed from a JapanUnited States agreement under GATT to increase Japanese imports of grainfed beef.

In 1979 the proportion of grain-fed beef in the total quota was 12 per cent, and this has now grown to 22 per cent. Most of this is

expected to be supplied by the United States. Mr McCabe said New Zealand would have to compete under an open tender system with all other suppliers for a share of the remainder, which is mainly prime grade. “New Zealand’s success depends on the price levels in the market,” he said. “Australian prices tend to be lower when they have had drought or have large numbers of beef cattle.” Mr McCabe said New Zealand exporters had shown greater interest in the Japanese market in recent years and New Zealand beef exports to Japan had been improving. This reflected greater success in tenders.

“The tender system can be a difficult way of selling, but generally our exporters have coped well with it,” he said.

Meanwhile in a statement the Meat Board has denied reports that their company ANZCO will sell beef in Japan. The board’s deputy chairman, Mr Norman Mcßae said the subject bad never

been discussed by the board. “Beef in Japan, as well as elsewhere, will remain in the hands of the meat companies,” he said.