The first shipment of U.S. beef has arrived in South Africa, part of a reopening of a market that was closed to U.S. beef, pork and poultry for years, said the USDA. The two nations agreed on meat trade rules early this year, after two years of negotiations. Poultry shipments reached almost 12,000 metric tons, worth $7.2 million, during the first three months of the year.
With the arrival of the beef shipment, “producers and exporters have gained another valuable market for their products,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. South Africa closed its market to U.S. poultry in 2000, to beef in 2003 and to pork in 2013. With the agreement on sanitary standards and related health certificates, U.S. meat exports could reach $75 million a year, said the USDA.
The agency forecasts beef exports of 2.5 billion pounds this year, up 9 percent, thanks to more attractive exchange rates and less competition from Australia. Poultry exports are estimated to rise 3 percent. Exports are an important component of the meat industry. Ten percent of U.S. beef production and 16 percent of U.S. poultry output is exported.