EU beef exports slump by 30%

Marts: Exports of beef and live cattle by the EU 25 fell by more than 30% during 2005, the latest figures available from Eurostat have shown, a drop of about 140,000 tonnes.

The decline has been attributed to three main factors, lower export refunds which prevailed for most of the year, a more stable EU market for beef, and a decline of about 2% in production within the EU.

Last year marked the third consecutive year of decline in EU exports, which have declined by a total of 60% since 2000 partly due to the ongoing difficulties with marketing outside the EU and also evidence of a stronger internal market for beef.