BSE in US causes huge global beef upset

The discovery of BSE in the US has affect 1.8m tonnes of the annual global beef trade. Bord Bia analysts say much of the annual exports of about 800,000 tonnes of American beef has been brought to a halt, and will have to be absorbed by the domestic US market.

As a result, a significant reduction is expected in the US’s annual imports of more than one million tonnes of beef.

An immediate Japanese ban closed down 36% of the total US beef exports during the period, and Japan will look principally to Australia and New Zealand to replace the US supply. However, their supplies of suitable cattle are tight, due to their drought earlier in the year.