A taste for Canadian beef continues to grow in Asia and Mexico.
Final export figures showed sales increased by four percent to Asia in spite of economic problems, reports the Canada Beef Export Federation. Beef sales increased by 15 percent in Mexico.
That means 1998 tonnage was up to 38,417 tonnes compared to 36,165 tonnes sold in 1997. These sales are the equivalent of about 230,000 head and were worth more than $141 million. Overall, Canada exports about $2.6 billion worth of live cattle and beef each year.
Sales to Mexico were almost 7,700 tonnes compared to 1997 when about 6,700 tonnes were shipped.
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Japanese sales also improved by more than 4,100 tonnes. In 1998 it bought more than 22,000 tonnes. Hong Kong sales also went up by nearly 1,000 tonnes to 7,700 tonnes.
Sales were down in other key markets like South Korea, Taiwan and China.
However, last week the Chinese government announced lower beef tariffs in an agreement with the United States.
Export federation president Larry Sears expects Canada to follow suit.
“I would be disappointed if the Americans got preferential treatment,” he said.
The agreement lowers U.S. tariffs from 40 percent to 12 percent. Tariffs on beef variety meats drop from 23 to 12 percent.
China is seen as a prime market with more than 1.2 billion potential beef consumers. In 1998 the Americans exported about $55 million in beef and variety meats to Hong Kong and China. Most of it was destined for hotel and restaurants.
Last year, Canada sold China 473 tonnes of beef.
