German Meat Consumption Stable
27 September 2012

GERMANY - Despite all negative reports on industrial livestock farming and lacking animal protection, the consumption of meat and meat products remains remarkably stable, with consumption levels hardly changing in 2011.

Shifts between the types of meat and meat products might be due to varied price developments in the individual segments. With a volume of approximately 7.3 million tonnes, the demand for meat and meat products remains unchanged as compared to the previous year, according to InterMeat, a trade show that took place in Düsseldorf this week.
 
Per-capita consumption of pork remains at 39.2kg and is not expected to change significantly in 2012. On account of reports about use of antibiotics in the poultry industry, the consumption of poultry suffered slightly for a short while; however, statistics are again predicting continuous per-capita consumption of about 11.5kg. Beef and veal at 8.6kg and lamb at 0.6kg balance out at almost the same values as in 2010. No significant changes are expected for 2012. All in all, the per-capita consumption of meat lies at about 61kg.
 
One reason for this comparatively good result may lie in the fact that the meat industry is reacting more to the criticism directed at industrial livestock farming and has implemented certain quality programmes. It has also informed consumers about these programmes. Some examples:
 
Animal protection: Many companies are in the process of implementing efficient, sustainable improvements in the area of animal protection. Exact performance specifications are made available to all market participants within a specific system in order to allow for sustainable improvements of animal protection levels by using a point system.
 
Product safety: Preventive consumer protection is already being implemented in the preliminary steps. The key for increased product safety lies in the integration of the steps agriculture, slaughtering, cutting and processing. For example, antibiotics monitoring within one quality system can be used as a preventive measure to minimise the development of antibiotics resistance.
 
Environment: Exact benchmarks are being implemented, for example, for CO2 balances, water and sewage, conventional and renewable energies and finally also for the product cycle. The achievement of established environmental targets has become a main focus for many companies in the meat industry.

Further Increases in the Meat Processing Sector

In 2011, the companies of the German meat products industry were able to increase the production of sausage products from 1,484,184 tonnes (2010) to 1,498,647 tonnes. This corresponds to an increase of 1.0 per cent as compared to the previous year. With 878,513 tonnes (2010: 866,809 tonnes), boiled sausages are the largest product group, followed by raw sausages with 450,150 tonnes (2010: 444,923 tonnes) and cooked sausages with 169,984 tonnes (2010: 172,452 tonnes). However, the numbers of the production statistics of the German meat products industry do not yet include significant product groups, such as dry-cured and cooked ham. In addition, numerous companies have expanded their product range to include segments such as instant meals, soups or pastas, which are not included in the statistics, either.
 
As compared to the previous year, the sales volume increased from € 15.8 billion to €17.2 billion (+8.6 per cent). However, the increase in sales volume is an expression of radical increases of the raw material prices and energy costs during the recent months, as well as the expansion of new product segments. On the other hand, the revenue situation of the companies is difficult, since they find it difficult to pass on with immediate effect the significant cost increases due to the tough competitive conditions in the retail trade.

Growth in Meat Production

In the past year in Germany, 8.2 million tonnes of meat were produced in commercial abattoirs, which is an increase of 1.5 per cent as compared to the previous year. According to the preliminary numbers published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), a new record was achieved in meat production. At 68 per cent, pork has the highest share in the meat production.

Next is poultry at 17 per cent and beef at approximately 14 per cent. The joint share of sheep, goats and horse meat lies at only 0.3 per cent. The growth trend for hog slaughter remained unbroken in 2011, as well. With a slaughter volume of 59.3 million animals, 1.5 per cent more hogs were slaughtered than in the previous year. The produced volume of pork therefore reached a record level of just under 5.6 million tonnes. Beef production decreased by 2.7 per cent to 1.16 million tonnes, as compared to the previous year. The number of slaughtered animals decreased by approximately two per cent to 3.68 million cattle.

Meat Sector Leader in Exports

For the past four years, the meat sector has been occupying the largest share of the entire value of Germany's agricultural exports. In 2011, a total of €8.74 billion of meat and sausage products were exported. The entire export in the meat sector was at a volume of approximately four million tonnes in 2011. About 12 per cent of this was allotted to meat products (sausages and processed meat).
 
The export success with regards to fresh and frozen pork continued on in 2011. The export volume increased by nearly seven per cent to just under 1.7 million tonnes. Of this amount, 82 per cent was exported to other EU member states. About 312,000 tonnes were exported to third countries. The share of Russia in the third-country exports had amounted to more than half in the previous year, but decreased to 42 per cent in 2011. At 132,900 tonnes, the volume was almost unchanged as compared to 2010. This shows that the companies were able to achieve the growth in exports mainly in the new sales markets.
 
Exports of fresh and frozen beef decreased by almost 11 per cent to a total of 372,000 tonnes. With a share of 314,600 tonnes, about 85 per cent went to intra-EU trade. In 2011, the most important customer outside of the EU was Turkey with a purchase volume of 20,400 tonnes. However, this was a temporary result that was caused by the annulment of the import embargo for Germany and the temporary lowering of the Turkish tariffs since the end of September 2010. About 30 per cent of all third-country exports of fresh and frozen beef went to Russia. This represented a decrease of approximately one third as compared to the previous year.

Imports of fresh and frozen beef amounted to 309,000 tonnes and increased by 2.9 per cent as compared to 2010. The increased volume came exclusively from EU member states, which made up for a good 80 per cent of the imports. As in the previous year, the major supplier countries in the EU are the Netherlands, France and Poland.
 
About 52,000 tonnes were imported from third countries, just under one per cent less than in 2010. With a share of 51 per cent, Argentina continues to be the most important third-country supplier. However, in the annual comparison, imports from Argentina decreased by three per cent to approximately 26,700 tonnes. Almost 15 per cent of all third-country imports of fresh and frozen beef come from Brazil. In comparison with the previous year, they increased by 13 per cent to 7,700 tonnes. There were significant increases in imports from the USA, which went up by 77 per cent to 5,700 tonnes.
 
Imports of pork decreased by 2.2 per cent to approximately 952,000 tonnes in 2011. Nearly all imports of fresh and frozen pork came from EU member states (946,000 tonnes). The most important supplier country is Denmark with a volume of 350,000 tonnes, followed by Belgium with 307,000 tonnes and the Netherlands with 119,000 tonnes.
 
Only 6,000 tonnes were imported from outside the EU, most of it from Chile, whose deliveries dropped by 10 per cent to 4,000 tonnes, as compared to the same period in the previous year.

Friday, October 05, 2012
Brasil Foods in UAE Takeover
BRAZIL - BRF - Brasil Foods SA is to acquire a 49 per cent stake and management control of Federal Foods Limited ("Federal Foods"), a privately-held company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, through its subsidiary in Austria.

The remaining share equity stake in Federal Foods will be maintained by Al Nowais Investments, the current owner of Federal Foods.

Established in 1991, Federal Foods is a leading food company in the United Arab Emirates, catering to a full spectrum of retail, food service and wholesale clients.

The company operates six branches in the United Arab Emirates and one in the State of Qatar, with over 1,350 employees and a logistics fleet over 260 chilled/frozen vans and trucks.

It achieved $266 million net sales and distributed 92,000 tons of products in 2011.

Federal Foods has been a distributor of Sadia products in the United Arab Emirates for over 20 years.

In addition to Sadia products, it distributes a range of chilled, frozen and dry products from other brands and suppliers.

Currently, BRF products already account for approximately 65% of Federal Foods total net sales.

BRF reiterates its intention to continue the partnerships built over time between Federal Foods and current suppliers.

BRF will sell and distribute its portfolio of products in the UAE through Federal Foods, including Sadia and Perdix brands, and the portfolio from the processed products plant which will start operating in 2013.

This acquisition is in line with BRF's strategic plan to internationalise the company, accessing local markets, strengthening BRF's brands and distribution and expanding its product portfolio in the Middle East.

BRF investment for the acquisition will amount to US$ 36 million, in return for a 49% share equity stake in Federal Foods. BRF will hold management control as established in the Shareholders Agreement, and will consolidate Federal Foods financial statements.

The closing of this transaction will depend on the successful completion of a legal and accounting due diligence, which is expected to occur over the following months.

CME: State of World Economy Still a Concern for Meat Indusrty
12 October 2012

 

US - Concerns about the state of the global economy continue to weigh upon market sentiment, and for good reason, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner.

 Today, the US meat industry depends on trade with the rest of the world more than at any other time in history. Often we hear about the impact that increased imports have on domestic producers, invariably followed by calls for the government to do more to limit such imports. The truth is that the US is a significant beneficiary of trade with the rest of the world. In 2011, exports of beef, pork, broilers and turkey accounted for about 17% of the overall volume of red meat and poultry production in the United States. The expectation is for exports to be even higher in 2012 and in 2013. In 2011, the US was a large net meat exporter, shipping about 15.7 billion pounds of beef, pork and poultry while importing only about 3.5 billion pounds of product, a good portion of it in the form of lean frozen boneless beef. Imports of lean beef used to get a lot of negative press in the past but even there the situation has dramatically changed. It is now in the interest of US cattle producers for the US to import more not less beef. Consider that much of the beef that comes into the US does not compete directly with the steaks, round cuts and chuck that sells at the grocery store. Rather, it is a critical component in making ground beef, largely for the foodservice industry. Without this supply of lean beef, it would be much more difficult to find enough supply to mix up with the fat trim that results from breaking down beef primals. At this time, there is a significant oversupply of fat beef trim in the US and there is a shortage of lean cow meat (smallest cow herd in 50 years). Lack of lean beef supplies tends to depress the market for fat beef trim and lower the overall value of the cattle coming to market. As for other proteins, there is very little debate as to the benefits of trade. In 2011, the US exported some 5.1 billion pounds of pork while importing just a little over 800 million pounds while chicken exports totaled almost 7 billion pounds and imports were just 100 million pounds or so.

The significant positive net trade in meat protein makes US producers more vulnerable to shifts in global economic conditions as well as shifts in exchange rates. Part of the reason for the sharp rise in US meat protein exports is the decline in the value of the US dollar. This has made US meat protein much more competitive in global markets and offset the higher production costs compared to other large global suppliers such as Brazil, the EU, Australia and Canada. More than 60% of US meat exports currently go to six major markets (see chart). Mexico and Canada account for about 28% of US meat exports, a result in part of the Free Trade Agreements negotiated in the 1990s. Japan, China and S. Korea are also very important markets. So when you see news of slowing growth in China, stagnant growth in Japan and S. Korea, keep in mind that these are not just curious stories from lands far away, they directly impact some of our major customers and affect the price of livestock and poultry traded every day. And when world growth forecasts are pared back, it could mean your profit potential may be pared back as well.

Friday, October 19, 2012
Warning as Dyed Pork Sold as Beef in Sweden
SWEDEN - Sweden's National Food Agency (NFA) has issued a warning to consumers after shipments of pork that have been dyed and labelled as beef have entered the market.

The dyed pork meat was discovered by a restaurant wholesaler after complaints over the meat texture.

The wholesaler sent the samples to the NFA which identified the meat as pork.

The meat is thought to have been sent from Hungary and Argentina but the ammount that could be on the market is unknown.

Consumers have therefore been warned to look out for the meat which is said to have an uneven colour with more red on the outer edges.

Unlike beef, pork meat has less muscle bundles around the edge.

The danger of the dye is currently being assessed by the agency and a warning message has been sent via the EU RASFF - Rapid Alert System for food and feed.

Friday, October 26, 2012
Brasil Foods Invests in China
CHINA - Together with a local partner, Brazilian-based Brasil Foods (BRF) is scheduled to begin construction of a new processing plant for poultry and pigs in China, starting next year.

BRF will begin construction of a processing plant for poultry and pigs in China in late 2013, according to Valor Econômico.

The investment will be made in partnership with the Chinese group, Dah Chong Hong (DCH), controlled by state-owned Citic Pacific, with which the Brazilian company began operating a joint venture earlier this year.

According to Antonio Augusto de Toni, vice president of external market of BRF, the plan is that the new unit to begin operation in late 2014.

Thursday, November 01, 2012
Brazil Looks to Increase Dairy Exports
BRAZIL - The Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brazil) has approved an international project for the dairy industry, which will see R$2 million invested into promotional materials for milk and milk products abroad.

Of the eight target countries, five are Arab and include Algeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Iraq, reports Brazil Arab News Agency. The other countries are China, Angola and Venezuela.

The project is expected to begin in November.

Promotions will include participation in tradeshows and fairs, the development of the Brazilian brand, trips for foreign journalists, researchers and businessmen and a buyer project.

According to the OCB Sectors and Markets analyst, Gustavo Beduschi, cooperatives account for a significant share of Brazilian dairy output, but the country is not a major exporter at this time. It was so up until 2008, when the industry exported the equivalent of US$ 500 million.

In 2009, however, the economic crisis caused countries which were formerly leading clients of Brazil’s, such as the United States and European Union nations, to adopt more protectionist stances. With regard to the Arab countries, exports declined as a result of competition, said Mr Beduschi.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012
US Poultry, Egg Exports Set Records
US - The value of US poultry exports through the third quarter of 2012 set a new year-on-year record of more than $4 billion, while the quantity of poultry exported was only marginally lower than the all-time record set in 2008, according to data posted last week by the Foreign Agricultural Service.

Meanwhile, US egg exports through the third quarter also set new records, fueled by increased demand from Mexico and the European Union, reports the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC).

Exports of US poultry meat for January through September reached 3.04 million metric tons valued at $4.032 billion, up six and 14 per cent, respectively, from the same period in 2011. Following are highlights:

Broilers
Cumulative exports of broiler meat (excluding chicken paws) through the third quarter hit 2.4 million tons valued at $3.1 billion, up six and 18 per cent, respectively, setting year-on-year records.

The top markets for US chicken were Mexico, 408,978 tons, up 21 per cent; Russia, 206,923 tons; up 59 per cent; Canada, 127,790 tons, up 23 per cent; Angola, 123,135 tons, up 3 per cent; and Cuba, 112,122 tons, up 82 per cent.

Exports to other important markets were Iraq (including transshipments via Turkey) 99,005 tons, up slightly; Taiwan, 98,669 tons, up 26 per cent; Hong Kong, 85,245 tons, down 54 per cent; Kazakhstan, 74,095 tons, up almost four-fold; and China, 65,279 tons, up 43 per cent.

September exports of broiler meat (excluding paws) were 279,279 tons, down three per cent from the same month last year, while export value reached $355.1 million, up four per cent. The decline is largely because of decreased shipments for the month to Hong Kong, Russia and Angola.

Chicken paws
Cumulative paw exports through the third quarter were 277,144 tons, an increase of five per cent, while export value was $350.3 million, down nine per cent. Of the total paw shipments, 62 per cent were shipped to Hong Kong, and 36 per cent were destined for mainland China.

Exports of paws for the month of September were 31,023 tons, up two per cent from September 2011, while export value was $35.2 million, down 17 per cent year on year. Shipments to Hong Kong decreased by 70 per cent to 8,275 tons, while exports to mainland China increased by more than eight-fold to 21,719 tons.

Total broiler meat (including paws) exports for January through September reached 2.7 million tons valued at $3.4 billion, up 6 and 14 per cent from the same period of 2011, respectively (Figure 1). Export value set a new record, while export quantity was second-highest on record. Five markets accounted for 43 per cent of the total - Mexico, Hong Kong, Russia, China, and Canada.



Figure 1. US broiler (including paws) exports in January-September since 1990
(Source: USDA/FAS GATS database)
Turkeys
Cumulative turkey exports through the third quarter reached 263,487 tons valued at $489.4 million, up 15 per cent in both volume and value (Figure 2). Export quantity and export value set year-on-year records.

Exports to Mexico, the top US turkey market, hit 138,006 tons valued at $271 million, up eight and six per cent year-on-year, respectively. Shipments to China, the second most important market, increased by 10 per cent to 33,561 tons, while export value reached $52.2 million, up 28 per cent.

Of the total, 77 per cent went to the top five markets - Mexico, China, Canada, Philippines and Hong Kong, with Mexico alone accounting for 52 per cent.

Turkey shipments for the month of September exports reached 33,383 tons, valued at $58.9 million, up 25 and 12 per cent, respectively, from September 2011, thanks largely to increased shipments to China, Philippines, Peru, Benin, Mexico, Canada and Taiwan.



Figure 2. US turkey exports in January-September since 1990
(Source: USDA/FAS GATS database)
Table eggs
Cumulative exports of table eggs for the first three quarters of 2012 were 85.4 million dozen valued at $78.6 million, up 44 and 48 per cent year on year, respectively. Of the total shipments, the top five export markets - Hong Kong, Canada, Mexico, the UAE and the EU - accounted for 87 per cent of the quantity.

September monthly table egg exports were 17.8 million dozen valued at $18.57 million, up 125 and 163 per cent year over year, respectively, thanks largely to increased shipments to Mexico, the EU, Canada and Hong Kong.

Processed egg products
Cumulative exports of egg products through the third quarter were $106.3 million, up 16 per cent year on year. Shipments to the EU hit nearly $35 million, more than double from the same period a year earlier. Exports to Japan decreased by 30 per cent to $34.1 million, accounting for 32 per cent of US total exports worldwide. Export value to South Korea decreased 14 per cent year-on-year, export value to Mexico and Canada increased by 398 and 13 per cent, respectively.

For egg products, September exports were $12.9 million, up five per cent from September 2011. While export value to Japan, the top export market for US egg products, decreased by 43 per cent to $4.5 million, exports to Mexico jumped to $3 million, as compared to $0.2 million in the same month in 2011. Also, exports to the EU and Canada increased significantly.

Total egg exports (table eggs plus egg products in shell egg equivalents) through the third quarter were 195.7 million dozen, up 17 per cent from the same period of last year, while export value hit $184.9 million, up 28 per cent (Figure 3). Both export quantity and export value set year-on-year records.

Monday, November 26, 2012
Growing Populations and Wealth Changing Food Demand
ANALYSIS - The growth of the global population to reach over 9 billion by 2050 is expected to change global consumption, supply and demand patterns for food, writes Chris Harris.

The population growth and the growing wealth in the developing nations are changing consumption trends.

In China and South East Asia, the migration of the population from the rural to the urban economy is changing the demand for a more protein enriched diet.

However, the change in consumption patterns may not be so much a change from cereals to meat and fish, but a change to eating more edible oils and more milk and dairy products.

Such a change and a pattern of growth will not only have an effect on the economies of developed and developing nations but also on agriculture and the demand for different crops.

Speaking at the recent Crop World conference in London Gautum Sirur from Cropnosis, said that while generally the consumption of edible oils globally is flat, there is a rapid rise in southern Asia.

Dairy consumption is seeing a similar trend particularly in India and the Sub-Continent.

"Dairy consumption is growing faster than meat consumption," Mr Sirur said.

"And countries that have this sort of growth also consume more legumes.

"Edible oil consumption has a great environmental impact as countries have to import it, particularly palm oil.

"And when you have a rise in milk consumption you have to look to the feedstock that goes to have high yielding dairy breeds."

He said that these issues of a changing environment forced by new oilseed crops and growing feed for dairy cattle need to be addressed if the world is to meet the future demand for food.

Market analyst Jonathan Shoham said that while global demand for food was smooth and predictable the supply side of the chain was unpredictable and volatile.

He said that globally there are half a billion farmers supplying food for 7 billion consumers - a figure that is growing all the time.

While the supply side is driven by the need to enhance yield and technological and environmental factors, demand is driven by taste and nutritional properties of food and by economic and social factors.

Recently, however, the demand for biofuels, particularly in the US, has changed the dynamics of supply and demand, because it is not driven by consumer demand.

He said that the demand for biofuels is politically driven and it could double the crop demand.

Food demand is also going to be affected by biomaterials and the bioeconomy and the acceptance of genetically modified foods as well as the way the global GDP grows and the amount of waste that is generated.

Between 30 and 40 per cent of crops are lost during the production process around the world and the supply chain in emerging countries wastes about 17 per cent of production while 12 per cent is lost in the supply chain in OECD countries. Consumers in the developed countries, however, waste more than in developing nations - eight per cent compared to two per cent of production.

Most of the growth in food demand will come from South and East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and it is expected that there will be a growth in food demand of 1.1 per cent compound annual growth rate up to 2050.

Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are also expected to account for the growth in energy demand.

The growth in demand will be largely for fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy products and edible oils while cereals' demand is expected to fall.

Mr Shoham said that as countries and populations move up the economic ladder, diets become more diverse and consumer demands start to change, bringing in consumer demand for food safety, traceability and sustainability. The growth in wealth starts to introduce environmental and social drivers to demand.

People want to know more about their food - its carbon footprint, its origin and how it has been produced.

As wealth grows the reasons for demand change. Initially it is necessary to have sufficient food, then consumers will demand safe and sufficient food and then they will want to examine the nutritional and health values of the food and question genetic modification until the consumer starts to look at the ethical drivers behind food production.

In the end, as populations grow wealthier demand for food changes and the resons for that demand change too.


Chris Harris, Editor-in-Chief

Chile Beef Bulletin, Pork Production up 9.4 Per Cent
05 December 2012

CHILE - So far this year (January to September) meat production in Chile has risen but exports have fluctuated with exports of beef down on last year but pork exports up. This bulletin contains detailed figures for meat production from the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture.

Meat production increased 5 per cent between January and September on the same period for 2011 reaching a total of 149,215 tonnes. September showed a slight decrease (-1.2 per cent) due to the long Independence Day holiday.



Pork Production
 
While pork production recorded an increase of 9.4 per cent over the period from January to September 2011 and reached 433,988 tons in September, declined by 20.8 per cent compared to August of this year. Normally there is a low between August and September, but this year the decline is more evident and may be partly explained by the largest number of September holidays.
 
Poultry Production

Poulty meat recorded an increase of 4.3 per cent over the first nine months of 2011. Broilers rose 3.4 per cent consisting of 83 per cent of poultry meat production and Turkeys who rose greater on last year (10.3 per cent).

 As in the production of other meats, poultry volumes in September also saw a sharp decrease compared to the month of August.

Cattle Production

In terms of cattle market sales the most common livestock sale was young bulls. Up to October fat steers continued with the national rise in the nominal price records which began in the June and reached $ 1.178/kilo by the start of October(after a fall that left the average monthly $ 1.033/kilo).

 The number of steers slaughtered rose 9.6 per cent compared to January-September period, 2011 which is attributed to the increase in the national cattle herd. Moreover, the breeding stock slaughter continues in low volumes similar to those recorded in 2011, indicating that the national bovine mass could continue to grow in the coming year.

 Steers sold for backgrounding (stores) followed a similar price increase untill September when the price fell away into October slightly by 2.6 per cent reaching $ 1.041/kilo. At this time in October, pork producers recorded a drop of 7.4 per cent from September.

Meanwhile, the prices of poultry meat have remained relatively stable. The price of a kilo of chicken registered at 0.7 per cent increase the period from January to October, 2011, on the contrary, live chickens to record producer a slight decline of 2.1 per cent in the same period.

Meat Imports
 
Beef imports up until month of October 2012 grew by 3.9 per cent, reaching a total of 105,856 tons of imported meat. The main countries supplying meat to Chile are Brazil (48 per cent), Argentina (21 per cent), Australia (13 per cent), Uruguay (12 per cent) and the U.S. (6 per cent).

This participation could change later this year, because the market between Chile and Paraguay has been reopened for beef. Pork also records an increase, in this case 10.7 per cent, compared to 2011, reaching a total of 14,228 tons. Finally, the poultry imports are the only recorded a drop in the top ten months of 2012, reaching 55,967 tons of meat, which means a decrease of 3.4 per cent over the same period of 2011.

Meat Exports

Beef exports have taken a downward trend during 2012. October saw a reduction of 51.1 per cent over the same period of 2011. This is thought to be due to demand in Chile raising prices greatly above prices of previous years.

By contrast, exports of pork still increased due to the amount of money invested in production. This money was intended to increase exports. Increased exports of pork registered for the period from January to October was 34.1 per cent over the same period in 2011.

Finally, exports of poultry recorded a rise of 4.3 per cent to October 2012, reaching a total of 83,760 tons. Main poultry destinations were were China (18 per cent), Mexico (17 per cent) and the U.S. (13 per cent).

Sales of Beef, Pork Increased 5.4 Per Cent in November
11 December 2012

BRAZIL - Exports of fresh beef and pork had good results in November. The two products combined sold $ 523.6 million, a 5.4 per cent increase from the same month last year.

 Daily sales of pork increased by approximately eight per cent compared to the same period last year.
 
The volume of shipments also showed growth of 24.1 per cent. Already the fresh beef on the daily sales, achieved growth in value and volume shipped about five and 14 per cent, respectively.
 
Another product that has achieved considerable increases were corn exports, which rose from US $ 258.1 million in 2011 to $ 1 billion in 2012. The shipment volume increased from 907.4 million tonnes to 3.9 million tonnes in 2012.
 

Thursday, December 20, 2012
Govt to Expand COOL Labelling at Restaurants
SOUTH KOREA - The government decided to expand the country-of-origin labeling rules to include more agricultural and fishery products sold at restaurants as part of efforts to enhance the right of consumers to choose the food they eat, officials said.

Under the revision approved by the Cabinet, restaurant owners are required to label pork for delivery and mutton with where they were produced.

According to Yonhap News Agency, they are also required to put the accurate country-of-origin labeling for living fish stored or displayed at fish tanks in each store.

Friday, December 21, 2012
Australia Boosts Poultry Meat Output
AUSTRALIA - The volume of poultry meat produced in 2011 was 8.7 per cent higher than the previous year, according to an ABARES report, while the value of this output was up slightly.

Overall gross livestock slaughter value was A$13,730.7 million in Australia in 2011-12, down from A$13,762.1 million the previous year, according to 'Agricultural Commodity Statistics 2012', the annual report from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

However, the value of poultry meat produced was A$2,078.1 million, up slightly from A$2,077.2 million the year before.

At 546.8 million, the number of poultry slaughtered in 2011 was 6.8 per cent higher than the previous year (Table 1). Average dressed weight was up slightly to 1.9kg so total production increased 8.7 per cent to exceed one million tonnes for the first time.

Exports in 2011 were up 27 per cent, following a dip in a generally upward trend in volume in 2010.

Total consumption of poultry meat in Australia in 2011 975,000 tonnes, 7.8 per cent higher than the previous year, taking per-capita average uptake up from 40.8 to 43.3kg per year.

Table 1. Australian supply and use of poultry meat
  Unit 2010 2011
Slaughterings million 512.2 546.8
Average dressed weight c  kg 1.8 1.9
Production c kt 934.4 1,012.5
Exports c kt 29.6 37.5
Total consumption e kt 904.8 975.0
Consumption per person  kg 40.8 43.3
a Livestock holdings on establishments with an estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) of A$5000.
b Excludes onfarm slaughter from July 2007.
c Carcass weight.
d Includes preserved pig meat.
e Apparent consumption.

Sources: ABARES; Australian Bureau of Statistics, Apparent Consumption of Foodstuffs, cat. no. 4306.0, Canberra; Australian Bureau of Statistics, International Trade, Australia, cat. no. 5465.0, Canberra; Australian Bureau of Statistics, Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary, cat. no. 7111.0, Canberra; ABS, Agriculture, Australia, cat. no. 7113.0, Canberra; Australian Bureau of Statistics, Agricultural Commodities, Australia, cat. no. 7121.0, Canberra 

Monday, January 14, 2013
Growth in Western-style Chilled Processed Meats
CHINA - A Euromonitor report published in November has indicated continued strong growth in the Chinese chilled processed foods sector, with chilled meats dominating the sector, according to Nick McIlroy from the Shanghai Office of Bord Bia - Irish Food Board.
 
Retail sales in the chilled food category increased by 10 per cent in current value terms in 2012, with chilled processed meats registering 10.8 per cent growth in value year-on-year from RMB79.7 billion (€9.74 billion) in 2011 to RMB 87.8 billion (€10.7 billion) in 2012.

One trend of particular note is the shift in consumption away from traditional Chinese processed chilled meats such as Chinese sausages, which have been conceding market share to more Western-style products such as ham and bacon.

In the five year period from 2007 to 2012, the combined market share of chilled ham and bacon increased from 29 per cent to 32.2 per cent, while traditional Chinese sausages fell from 34 per cent market share to 31.5 per cent in the same period.

While the chilled processed meat market is still fragmented, increased urbanisation continues to drive the shift away from traditional retail outlets to supermarkets and hypermarkets with adequate cold supply-chain facilities.

Euromonitor forecasts steady retail growth of 11 per cent annually from 2012 to 2017 in the chilled processed meat sector, while growth in food service is expected to reach 13 per cent annually over the same period.

With pork representing some 65 per cent of total meat and poultry consumed in China, and a potential lag in China’s drive for pork self-sufficiency, the report heralds good news for pork exporters engaged in the Chinese market.

1.23Bn Chicken Wings Eaten at Super Bowl Weekend
24 January 2013


US - Chicken wings have become a staple food of Super Bowl parties in the US, and demand for them on menus is now at an all-time high leading up to the second biggest eating day of the year – Super Bowl Sunday.

Super Bowl weekend is unquestionably the biggest time of the year for wings. According to the National Chicken Council’s 2013 Wing Report, more than 1.23 billion wing portions will be consumed during Super Bowl weekend in 2013, as fans watch the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens battle for the Lombardi Trophy.
 
To put that into perspective, if 1.23 billion wing segments were laid end to end, they would stretch from Candlestick Park in San Francisco to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore... 27 times.
 
Super Bowl wing consumption is down about one per cent, or 12.3 million wings, compared to last year’s numbers, but not because demand for them is declining. Quite the opposite, explains Bill Roenigk, chief economist and market analyst at the Washington, D.C.-based National Chicken Council.
 
"Chicken companies produced about one per cent fewer birds last year, due in large part to record high corn and feed prices," Dr Roenigk said. "Corn makes up more than two-thirds of chicken feed and corn prices hit an all-time high in 2012, due to two reasons: last summer’s drought and pressure from a federal government requirement that mandates 40 per cent of our corn crop be turned into fuel in the form of ethanol. Simply put, less corn equals higher feed costs, which means fewer birds produced."
 
Ranch Hands Bleu Cheese Decisive Defeat in New Poll
 


Almost six in 10 (57 per cent) US adults who eat chicken wings said they typically like to eat their wings with ranch dressing, according to a new National Chicken Council poll conducted by Harris Interactive*. Only about three in 10 (35 per cent) prefer bleu cheese dressing.
 
Adults who eat chicken wings who live in the Northeast, though, are significantly more likely to prefer bleu cheese dressing (47 per cent Northeast vs. 32 per cent Midwest, 30 per cent South and 32 per cent West), while those in other parts of the country are more likely to prefer ranch dressing (65 per cent Midwest, 56 per cent South and 64 per cent West vs. 44 per cent Northeast).
 
The data also show that nearly four in five US adults (79 per cent) eat chicken wings and that consumption does not vary significantly by region or gender. Women (77 per cent) are just as likely as men (82 per cent) to roll up their sleeves, break out the wet naps and eat a few wings.
 
"The data show that chicken wings are not bound by gender or geographic lines," added the council’s Dr Roenigk. "We also know that they are nonpartisan and politically independent. That is, there are really no extreme left wings or extreme right wings."
 
Perhaps not surprisingly, among adults who eat wings, women are more likely than men to say they like to eat their wings with celery (39 per cent women vs. 28 per cent men).
 
After ranch dressing at the top: 43 per cent of wing lovers chose barbecue sauce as their typical snack or dipping sauce; 38 per cent said hot sauce; 35 per cent said bleu cheese; and 34 per cent chose celery. Fewer than one in five wing lovers (8 per cent) described themselves as purists who eat nothing with their wings.
 
Wing-onomics
 
The vast majority of wings, especially those destined for restaurants, are disjointed, with the third joint (the thin part known as the flapper) being exported to Asian countries and the meatier first and second joints being sold domestically. The wing is usually split into two parts – or portions or segments – known as the "drumette" and the mid-section or "flat" and sold to restaurants or retail grocery outlets.
 
A chicken has two wings, and chicken companies are not able to produce wings without the rest of the chicken. Therefore, the supply of wings is limited by the total number of chickens produced. When the demand for wings is stronger than the demand for other chicken parts, the price of wings will go up, as it has this past year.
 
The wholesale price of wings will be the most expensive ever during Super Bowl XLVII as demand rises and the supply has shrunk. Wings are also currently the highest priced part of the chicken.
 
Wholesale wings are currently at about $2.11 a pound (Northeast), the highest on record at the US Department of Agriculture, up 26 cents or 14 per cent from a year earlier.
 
Wing prices always go up in the fourth quarter of the year as restaurants stock up for the Super Bowl and prices usually peak in January during the run-up to the big game. But many analysts expect that demand will hold steady even after the NFL season ends.
 
"Demand for wings is proving more and more to be inelastic," Dr Roenigk added. "With the rising number of restaurants with menus dedicated to wings, the return of the NHL hockey season, the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament and then the start of grilling season, wing demand should remain hot."
 
But Dr Roenigk adds that consumers shouldn’t worry about any shortage of wings on Super Bowl Sunday or any time soon.
 
"The good news for consumers is that restaurants plan well in advance to ensure they have plenty of wings for the big game," he said. "And some restaurants are promoting boneless wings and some are offering flexible serving sizes. But if you’re planning to cook your own wings, I wouldn’t advise being in line at the supermarket two hours before kickoff."
 
Retail Grocery and Supermarkets
 
According to Nielsen Perishables Group FreshFacts® data, both fresh and prepared wings totaled $1.6 billion in sales for the 52 weeks ending 24 November 2012, an increase of 5.4 per cent compared to a year earlier.
 
Wing sales at grocery stores and supermarkets spike dramatically the week of the Super Bowl, but the data show that consumers also stock up the week before, too.
 


Consumers cooking their own wings at home can find traditional and unique chicken wing recipes on the National Chicken Council website at www.eatchicken.com. With Super Bowl XLVII being played in New Orleans, Cajun-style wings might be in order.
 
Food Service/Restaurants

Originally on and off various fast-food menus, chicken wings have become a staple of casual dining and pizza places. Virtually every casual dining chain offers chicken wings as an appetizer, if not also as an entrée.
 
Increasingly, ready-to-eat or heat-and-eat wings are showing up in the delicatessen and prepared foods section of supermarkets, a growing trend.
 
"Orders at carry-outs and restaurants for chicken wings on Super Bowl Sunday will increase more on that day than any other winter Sunday – a 156 per cent increase," said Harry Balzer, vice president of the NPD Group, a market research firm.
 
Chicken is a very popular dish overall on that day... and it’s not just wings. According to NPD Group data, chicken strips will also be up 43 per cent over a typical winter Sunday and orders for fried chicken on the bone will be up 33 per cent.
 
Wing-specific Restaurants are Hot on Super Bowl Weekend

Wingstop, a Texas-based restaurant franchise with 550 locations, is prepping for the biggest day of the year when they expect to sauce and toss more than six million wings at restaurants across the country. Wingstop expects Super Sunday business to be up 15 per cent over last year, and if Wingstop reaches its goal this will be the 13th straight year the company has set a big game sales record.
 
"The Super Bowl is the second biggest eating holiday of the year, after Thanksgiving. With the growing demand for wings, we are gearing up for this to be our biggest year yet," said Charlie Morrison, Wingstop president and CEO.
 
The Rest of the Year – 2013
 
Although America’s taste for chicken wings is no hotter than during Super Bowl weekend, the National Chicken Council estimates that overall in 2013 more than 13.25 billion chicken wings, about three billion pounds, will be marketed as wings (as opposed to the wings on a whole chicken, for example). The actual number of wing portions sold is estimated to be 26.5 billion because, as noted above, the vast majority of wings are cut into two segments or portions. This is about a two-per cent decrease from 2012, reflecting chicken production estimates for 2013.
 
History of the Chicken Wing
 


Deep-fried chicken wings have long been a staple of Southern cooking. But the concept of cooking wings in peppery hot sauce was born in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, when co-owner Teressa Bellissimo cooked leftover wings in hot sauce as a late-night snack for her son and his friends. The boys liked them so much that the Bellissimos put them on the menu the next day. Served with celery slices and bleu cheese sauce, “Buffalo Wings” were an instant hit.
 
Dick Winger, who sold hot sauce to the bar, went on the road with Dominic Bellissimo, the owners’ son, to promote the item and sell hot sauce, and the item gradually caught on with restaurant operators around the country. The concept hit the big time in 1990, when McDonald’s began selling Mighty Wings at some of its restaurants. KFC rolled out Hot Wings a year later, and Domino’s Pizza introduced its own wings in 1994. They’ve remained hot ever since. McDonald’s is back in the wing business this year, currently testing its Mighty Wings in 500 Chicago-area locations.
 
Chicken Wings and Football – A love story
 
The rise of the chicken wing and its correlation to American football all had to do with timing.
 
Cooking the whole bird was trendy in the sixties and seventies, but in the eighties US consumers started preferring boneless-skinless breast meat, and wings became an inexpensive byproduct for chicken producers. Restaurants and bars realized they could charge low prices for the relatively inexpensive protein, and due to the spicy/salty nature of the sauce, they discovered that beer sales would go through the roof when customers ate wings.
 
At the same time, sports bars with multiple TVs and satellite dishes were becoming more and more common in America thanks to rapidly developing technology; and the most popular sporting event to watch with friends in bars is football. Wings were easily shareable and affordable, a great “group food” to eat with other people, and are the perfect pairing with a pitcher of beer. And so the relationship was born.
 

Russia to Ban US Beef, Pork Following Ractopamine Discovery
01 February 2013

RUSSIA - Russia has announced it will ban exports of beef and pork from the United States from 11 February due to the finding of ractopamine.

 The Russian veterniary service has previously requested information from various countries, requiring them to confirm that no ractopamine would be present in exported products.
 
Sergey Dankvert, Head of the Rosselkhoznadzor has now sent letters to Dr Ronald Jones, the US Food Safety and Inspection Services assistant administrator and Dr Ian Alexander, Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada.
 
In the letters, Mr Dankvert expresses that although numerous requests for confimation of measures taken to prevent ractopamine in products exported by the countries were sent, it has not recieved any guarentee from the US.