Russia a major importer of EU beef

Marts: EU beef exports for the past two months have underlined a high dependence by the EU on the Russian market, which accounted for almost two-thirds of total exports over the period.

Since the beginning of the GATT year in July, subsidised beef and live cattle export licences from the EU were issued for 65,500 tonnes, which is 12% lower than for the same period in the previous year. The exports for July and August amount to only 8% of the licences for exports available under the GATT quota for the year.

Of the licences issued, exports to Russia amounted to 63% of the total, confirming that Russia remains the principal international market for beef exports from the EU. Exports to the Lebanon accounted for just 14% of the licences.

Of the exports, supplies from Ireland represented 22% of the total under licence, being the second largest volume by a member state, with the largest supply coming from Germany, which took up 26% of the total.

Exports from Ireland amounted to 14,500 tonnes, equivalent to about 44,000 head of cattle. Exports from Italy amounted to 9,000 tonnes, while the shipments from France and Spain accounted for 5,600 tonnes and 7,200 tonnes. A small volume of 3,600 tonnes came from new EU members, who also exported 4,600 tonnes without licence - by paying the appropriate levies on the sales.

Of the total exports under licence for July and August, Bord Bia says that fresh beef accounted for 55%, and frozen beef amounted to 20%, while the balance was accounted for by 48,000 head of live cattle exported.