Japan’s Beef Consumption Down In November
JAPAN - Beef consumption in Japan during November 2009 eased 10 per cent year-on-year, to 66,993 tonnes (boneless equivalent), according to supply and demand data released by Japan’s Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corporation.
14 January 2010
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Meat and Livestock Australia specialists, say that imported beef consumption in November fell 20 per cent from the same month in 2008, to 32,802 tonnes. The fall was largely due to reduced import volumes (below 12 per cent from the previous year), on the back of slow demand from end-users, particularly the foodservice sector.
In Japan, the foodservice sector consumes approximately 60 per cent of total beef, and Australia is a major supplier to this category. According to the Japan Foodservice Association, the industry’s overall sales and spend per customer during November was down by six per cent and five per cent year-on-year, respectively.
Japanese fast food (gyudon beef rice bowl) outlet sales were about the same as 12 months ago, but western fast food (hamburgers) recorded a five per cent sales fall, despite a three per cent increase in customers, reports Meat and Livestock Australia.
In comparison, sales of Australian beef at retail were relatively firm, with ALIC point of sale data indicating a four per cent increase (year-on-year) in purchase volumes during November.
In the calendar year to November 2009, Japan’s beef consumption totalled 757,725 tonnes, two per cent above the same period in 2008, but 11 per cent lower than 2003 (prior to the BSE outbreak in US).
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