Total beef imports amounted to 43,661 tonnes, down 9 per cent on the previous year. Imports during the January to June period, however, were 4 per cent above the same period last year, at 239,351 tonnes.

Imports from Australia in June totalled 35,485 tonnes, 17 per cent below 2006, but remained unchanged on the January to June period last year at 202,016 tonnes. New Zealand maintained its position as the number two supplier of imported beef to Japan at 3,688 tonnes (down 17 per cent on the previous year), closely followed by the US imports which reached 3,410 tonnes. This is the highest volume from the US since trade resumed in July 2006, bringing the US’s 2007 total to 12,917 tonnes.

Japan imported 60,970 tonnes of pork (down 7 per cent on the previous year) and 25,421 tonnes of chicken (down 35 per cent ) in June. The significant decline in chicken imports was due to the increase in export prices from supplying countries – namely Brazil and the US.

Sheepmeat imports also fell to 2,077 tonnes, from 3,677 tonnes in June 2006, totalling 12,240 tonnes during the January to June 2007 period.