Japanese pork imports expected to be down - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Eurofood, Feb 13, 2001

Japan's pork imports are expected to decline in January-March 2001, after surging in the fourth quarter of 2000. This is largely due to a rise in pork prices by major suppliers following growing consumer worries about BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) from beef.

Other factors include the weakness of the yen against the dollar and euro, which has resulted in imported pork being less attractive, plus a large hangover of domestic stocks. "Pork import prices have been rising since early this year because increased fears about mad cow disease have boosted global demand for pork," said one trader.

IMPORTS ROSE LAST YEAR

Japan's pork imports had risen last November and December in anticipation of a seasonal rise in demand during the holidays. However, local demand barely increased from the level seen last year. Japan's pork imports jumped by 20.2% year-on-year to 59 363 tonnes in November, while domestic pork output declined 0.9% year-on-year to 81 811t, according to the Japanese government statistics.

REFRIDGERATED IMPORTS

Japan's refrigerated imports increased by 13.9% year-on-year to 18 982t in November, with most imports coming from the US. Frozen pork imports also increased by 23.3% year-on-year to 40 317t, mostly from Denmark. Japan's pork stocks surged by 40% year-on-year to 91 043t at the end of November 2000, consisting of 73 051t of imported pork and 17 992t of locally produced pork.