In 2013, Japan’s total beef consumption is expected to rise moderately from the previous year due to increased imports of U.S. beef under the new export program for Japan. This trend is expected to continue into 2014 as it is anticipated that U.S. beef will continue to substitute for Australian beef and will fill projected declines in the domestic beef supply. Japan’s 2014 total pork consumption is projected to be almost the same as 2013, supported by solid retail demand for domestic and imported chilled pork, but this will also be offset by reduced imports of frozen pork cuts.
This report is an update to JA3007 Japan Livestock and Products Semiannual, dated March 1, 2013 (see the link below). In updating and forecasting the demand and supply outlook and forecast numbers for CY 2014, Post assumed that average consumers will remain price conscious and that Japan’s imports of U.S. beef will continue under the “LT 30 QSA program”, the new beef export program. Post also assumed that pork imports will continue under the Gate Price System, a differential import duty system.
