Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPALCE.COM, 4/26/2011

The 2011 triple whammy of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear contamination may add to what was already a solid year of U.S. beef exports to Japan, according to U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Phil Seng.

In a report on the current status of the Japanese protein industry this morning, Seng told industry analysts that U.S. exports to Japan are on track to reach 153,000 metric tons in 2011, an increase of 25 percent from 2010 levels. He added that for the first four months of 2011, weekly beef exports to Japan were already 93 percent higher than in the corresponding period last year. There has been a pent-up demand for beef in Japan over the last year or so, contributing to the sharp rise, he says.

Seng estimates that 4,000 head of cattle, 30,000 hogs and 600,000 chickens were lost (killed or presumed dead) in the Mar. 11 event and the tremors in the weeks since. Seng predicts there will be more livestock that will be euthanized as the effects of radioactive fallout on the animals and on their environment continue to be measured.

Four prefectures were directly affected by the natural and nuclear disasters and another 10 agriculturally focused prefectures were affected regionally, he says. The Nikkei newspaper estimates the damage to agriculture will top $10 billion with production losses nearly $500 million in the affected areas.

Seng notes that relief and recovery efforts by the USMEF and other foreign entities will be remembered as Japan moves forward, potentially affecting previously contentious issues regarding beef exports, like the 20-month rule on cattle.

However, he cautions, here must be a “step-by-step approach” because more than the tragedy will affect these and other issues in the future.

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