Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

11-19-2008 15:37
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2008/11/123_34658.html

S. Korea Becomes Largest Market for US Beef

South Korea became the largest export market for U.S. beef in September as local buyers moved to stockpile the meat in anticipation of greater demand down the road, a report showed Wednesday.

The report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said U.S. beef exports to South Korea reached $89.24 million or 28 percent of the total for the cited month, according to Yonhap News.

The top ranking comes just three months after Seoul lifted its ban on U.S. beef imposed in late 2003 after a case of mad cow disease was reported.

A new import deal signed in April sparked massive protests by South Korean consumers, prompting Seoul and Washington to limit imports to meat from animals under 30 months old. The rules went into effect on June 26.

The USDA report showed shipments sent to South Korea exceeded those for Mexico and Canada, the second and third largest importers of U.S. beef, and the $29.70 million bought by Japan, which had been the largest market in Asia this year.

Mexico imported $77.91 million worth of U.S. beef, while Canada bought $58.93 million in September.

Mexico was the largest importer in terms of volume at 18,046 tons in the month, compared to 16,642 tons for South Korea, although exports to the latter were more expensive, premium cuts that fetched higher prices.

For the whole of this year, South Korea came in fourth after Mexico, Canada and Japan by importing a total of $158.46 million worth of U.S. beef. The import amount is high, given that the country imported no U.S. beef for the first six months of the year.

On the sharp September increase, the local office of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said many importers have started stockpiling meat as major retail outlets and department stores are considering putting the products on their store shelves.

Large retailers had not sold U.S. beef out of fear of negative publicity and possible protests by civic groups, but there have been changes in their stance recently.

"This explains the surge in import orders and limited number of local stores and restaurants that handle U.S. beef," a USMEF spokesperson said. He added that most of the meat imported so far is still in storage.

In a related development, the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service said that as of Tuesday, U.S. beef that cleared customs since September reached 32,628 tons versus 22,400 tons for Australian beef, previously the best sellers in the country since 2004.

[wylies99]

This thread has helped.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=131622&start=165

Sure, we haven't eaten 16,000 tons, (give me a month or two- ), but WE MADE OUR POINT.

[Soccerstar]

I have not passed a single butcher shop or meat counter where I haven't asked a salesperson for US beef. The response has nearly always been "no", but after asking a hundred times I'm sure the word is starting to get out that there is a market out there selling to westerners.
I've also been trying to get it in restaurants. No restaurant will admit to carrying it.
I am furious that Mcdonalds, Burger King, and Cosco promote the fact that their meat is not American. At least be silent on the issue traitors!

[ChopChaeJoe]

I also always ask for the mi-guk sogogi, never any yet.

[louiloui]

I buy American beef at my local Korean grocery store.

[wylies99]

[sojourner1]

I haven't seen an increase in supply nor better prices yet. It's still all hanwoo in tiny quantities the same as last year when they took migook sogogi off the market. I'm not sure where it's all going, but there lacks a supply chain of this and many many other things. Maybe Seoulites are eating the majority of the imported food as I noticed Seoul people are much larger than those out in the country and some are even what yo could call fat.

[NoExplode]

Right now sellers are making a killing. I guarantee 90% of all beef for sale in any store is USA beef. They are just labeling it otherwise to gouge until there are gouging protests.

[Xuanzang]

That imported meat sticker at Homeplus is just a smokescreen. I bet it is USDA beef pretending to be Aussie.

[Typhoon]

[Davew125]

just out of interest has anyone been buying Korean beef? Its to expensive for me but it looks really good, with the dark colour and the marbling. Anyone know if its worth the extra cost?

[Soccerstar]

[wylies99]

A Korean friend of mine insists that all of the "Australian" beef sold at Costco is actually American beef. He keeps telling me that "everyone knows it."

[Intrepid]

Still haven't seen it at the local E-Mart, but the local "Han Woo Go-gi Jun Moon Jum" has changed it's name to "Traditional Go-gi Jun Moon Jum" and now serves American beef. Prices have dropped 60%, the meat tastes better than the Korean beef they used to sell, and the place is jam packed until 10 p.m. every night (and I'm the only foreigner).

[bangbayed]

Most of it is probably being sold to restaurants. Whether they choose to call it US beef there or not and keep their prices high is up to them.