EU beef production to stay stable

Beef production within the 15-member EU is predicted to remain stable in 2004, according to the latest forecast from the EU-15 Beef Forecasting Group.

Production within the 15 member states represented 97% self-sufficiency in 2003 and the balance is expected to remain at the same level this year, the second year in which the EU will produce less beef than the consumer market requires.

Bord Bia believes that the 3% deficit in production will attract an increase in beef imports from the competitively priced producer countries such as South America, particularly because EU intervention stocks of beef have been totally cleared.