Agricultural News
Growing China's Market a Work in Progress That'll Take Time But the Reward Will Be Worth the Wait
Fri, 01 Sep 2017 10:43:04 CDT
While US beef has been approved for import into China for some time now, developing that market is still a work in progress. The first shipments of US beef are actually just now reaching China's shores. However, at the end of this month, the US Meat Export Federation will be showcasing US beef in some of China's largest cities. USMEF's Dan Halstrom spoke recently with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays about these events and his outlook on the future of the Chinese beef market.
"We're actually holding three different showcases, or kick-offs," Halstrom said. "One in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou at the end of September."
Each event will host approximately 300 professionals from the trade industry, including import distributors, retailers and especially members of the food service sector - who Halstrom says desperately want US beef. A range of cuts will be featured at the events for tasting, accomplishing the critical task of getting the product in their mouths. These events are the best way, Halstrom says, at refamiliarizing China's food industry with our product. As that process continues, producers and packers back home are ramping up their efforts to produce cattle that qualify for the strict regulations under which beef destined for China's market must adhere to. All this effort is being done to nurture a new market into eventual maturity, which he believes holds great potential.
"The potential is big on the value side. This market is not going to be the biggest volume market," Halstrom said, explaining that China's market could grow exponentially over the next ten years or so, particularly in variety meat purchases. "The variety meats in my mind - the USTR did a wonderful job negotiating. This is the hidden benefit of the agreement."
Listen to Farm Director Ron Hays and guest, Dan Halstom, discuss the market potential of China and how the USMEF plans to develop that potential, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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