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China’s increased demand for beef is good news for US producers

The head of the Asia-Pacific region for the US Meat Export Federation says China’s consumption of beef creates more opportunities for the US.

Joel Haggard tells Brownfield higher beef prices haven’t curtailed China’s appetite for beef.  “Despite all these restrictions and we’ll import another $5 billion worth of beef from all sources,” he says.  “Including more from the US, than last year, which was a record year.”

He says there has been some concern that China’s COVID-zero policies would slow consumer demand, but it hasn’t.  “The response from consumers has been at-home consumption,” he says.  “And imported beef is becoming more available to consumers for in-home consumption because of e-commerce.”

Haggard says demand for grain-fed beef in China is currently around 11%, but.  “I’m going to remain optimistic, that we’ll see more people switching to grain-fed beef as they recognize its attributes,” he says.  “And that they’re still going to be willing to pay a little bit more than grass-fed beef.”

Brownfield interviewed Haggard during the US Meat Export Federation’s Fall Board Meeting, which was held in Oklahoma City, OK. 

AUDIO: Joel Haggard, US Meat Export Federation