Source:  MEATINGPLACE, 6/12/15

U.S. beef exports to South Korea have nearly caught up with Australian shipments, seven years after the country lifted a ban on American imports, Business Korea reported.

Surpassing Australia would put U.S. beef back in the top spot for Korean imports of beef. South Korea banned American beef in 2003 after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was found in the United States.

The article cited data from the country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety showing imports of U.S. beef stood at 2,527 tons from May 1 to May 10, surpassing Australian beef's 2,475 tons for the period.

For the full month of May, Australia exported 12,251 tons of beef to South Korea, above U.S. beef's 10,639 tons, the article said.

Demand for U.S. beef is coming from high-end Korean restaurants using the product, the story noted.

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