South Korea's U.S. beef imports increased
66 percent in the first five months of the year from a year earlier, making it the third-largest market for American beef exporters, the trade ministry said Friday.
A total of 37,117 tons of U.S. beef worth US$163 million were imported into the country in the January-May period, trailing imports to Mexico and Canada, the ministry said, citing data from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
During the same period last year, imports of U.S. beef reached 22,360 tons valued at $83.8 million, according to the ministry.
Industry sources estimate U.S. beef accounted for more than 30 percent of South Korea's beef imports in the first five months. Australian beef
accounted for about half of all imports.
Seoul banned all U.S. beef imports in late 2003 when a case of mad cow disease was reported in the U.S. After long, drawn-out negotiations, South Korea lifted most of its restrictions by late July 2008.
U.S. beef accounted for 67 percent of all meat imported by South Korea before the 2003 ban.
The U.S. wants South Korea to lift restrictions that limit the shipment of beef of cattle under 30 months old. Both sides are set to discuss the matter in the coming months.