FAO: Animal diseases affect one-third of global meat exports

FAO: Animal diseases affect one-third of global meat exports    The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that about one-third of global meat exports, or 6 million tons, are affected by animal disease outbreaks.
   The FAO estimates that the value of lost business due to import bans could reach $10 billion in 2004.
   So far, 12 countries face export bans or market constraints as a result of animal diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and avian influenza.
   The United States and Canada account for one-quarter of global beef exports (about 1.6 million tons, valued at about $4 billion). U.S. beef exports reached 1.2 million tons in 2003. If the ban on U.S. beef stays in place for the year, the industry’s international volumes for 2004 will drop to 100,000 tons, the FAO said.
   Both Canada and United States, in addition to nine Asian countries reported outbreaks of bird flu. These countries account for 4 million tons or half of the world’s exports of poultry meat.
   As a result of the bans, non-traditional poultry suppliers, such as Malaysia, the Philippines and Brazil have moved into the global market.
   Both Malaysia and the Philippines will export poultry to Japan. Malaysia will export 200 to 240 ton of boneless chicken, while the Philippines are expecting to ship 30,000 tons, the FAO said.
   The FAO also said Brazilian exporters are already planning for stronger demand for their poultry products in the wake of the bird flu outbreaks and will increase their 2004 production by 5 to 6 percent while raising poultry exports by 15 percent.
   In addition, the FAO forecasts an increased demand for pork. “This is already visible in Japan where shortages of beef and chicken have led to pigmeat prices surging 40 percent in February following import bans on U.S. beef and Asian poultry,” the FAO said.