09/01/08
China looks set to overtake the EU as the world's third largest
beef producer according to figures produced by Meat and Livestock
Commission's Economics department.
Their latest publication, International Meat Market Review points
out little of the extra Chinese production will hit the international
market as it will be swallowed up by rising domestic demand.
In
the pig market, disease outbreaks meant tighter supplies coupled
with sharp price increases in 2007, which in turn stimulated demand
for substitute proteins such as beef.
Argentina and Brazil also
increased production in 2007, with further increases forecast for
this year.
During the first nine months of 2007, EU beef exports
were significantly lower year-on-year as Brazilian supplies provided
increased competition on the key Russian market.
The outlook for
the EU is less optimistic; the report suggests that beef production
will continue on a downward trend as a result of the structural
contraction of the dairy herd and the policy decision to decouple
EU support from production.
MLC Industry Services
Manager Jenny Spencer said, "The sharp
rise in world cereal prices has had a detrimental impact on producer
costs, particularly for those countries in southern Europe which
rely more heavily on feedlots.
"France and Spain are the only
member states of any significance expected to show an increase
in beef and pork production".
Continuing high feed costs look
set to remain a factor in EU pig production; although output in
2007 was higher than a year ago, a fall is foreseen for 2008 as
the impact of worldwide grain shortages and corresponding high
feed prices make an impact. Sheep meat production in the EU is
also falling.
The International Meat Market Review is a biannual
country-by-country overview of trends in production, trade and
prices in the main EU meat-producing countries and principal world
markets.
It is an essential tool for those who trade across borders
and who want complete information on competitor markets. Annual
subscriptions start at £79 - for further details and to subscribe,
contact Jayne Dines on 01908 844396.
International Meat Market Review
is part of a wide portfolio of publications and services produced
for the red meat industry by MLC Economics' team of analysts.
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