Chinese demand for imported beef continued strengthening in June, taking the total volume for the first half of 2009 to a record 5,890 tonnes swt - up 129% year-on-year and 13% on the previous record in 2003 (5,195 tonnes swt). Both chilled and frozen beef imports reached new highs for the January to June period, totalling 302 tonnes swt and 5,587 tonnes swt, respectively.
       
       The main contributors to the growth in China's beef imports over the six months to June was a surge in volumes from Australia and New Zealand, as the expanding retail and foodservice sectors continued to face short domestic supplies. Australia remained the largest imported beef supplier to China during this period, representing 45% (2,624 tonnes swt) of total imports. Uruguayan beef accounted for 26% of imports (1,559 tonnes swt) and NZ's market share was 22% (1,296 tonnes swt).
       
       With three Brazilian plants approved to export boneless beef to China, imports of Brazilian beef during the first half of 2009 totalled 411 tonnes swt - 7% of total beef imports into this market.
       
       Australia was also the major supplier (96%) of chilled imported beef into China during January to June, with the remaining 4% sourced from Brazil and New Zealand.
       
       Source: MLA (August 28, 2009).