S. Korean imports of U.S. beef sluggish

SEOUL, Dec. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean imports of U.S. beef were sluggish this
year, totaling less than half of Australian beef imports due to lingering safety
concerns, a government report showed Sunday.
According to the report released by the Korea Customs Service, U.S. beef imports
stood at about 53,000 tons in the first 11 months of this year, compared with
116,500 tons of Australian beef. In terms of value, U.S. imports came to
US$245.02 million, compared with $388.03 million for Australian imports.
During the January-November period, U.S. beef imports accounted for 26.3 percent
of the total import market of 201,016 tons, it noted.
Industry experts said the main reason for sluggish demand was health concerns.
Seoul and Washington agreed to limit shipments of beef from cattle less than 30
months old after the full-scale resumption of U.S. beef imports caused public
outcry in South Korea last year amid fears of mad cow disease.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)