China remains as the dominant player

They also revoked the trade permit of a JBS-Swift & Co plant after it sent a box of beef containing banned ribs. Somewhat bizarrely Japan says it’s willing to buy more Australian beef but not until it settles its row with the US over fears of BSE in US beef imports. Raw export sales for the four weeks under review showed China yet again in pole position with 1,288,900 hides. Hong Kong were in fourth place with 101,000, giving the region a combined total of 1,389,900 (1,236,500).Korea came in second with 500,600 (373,400), followed by Mexico with 130,100 (135,800). Taiwan was next with 95,200 (188,400) and Vietnam took 88,200 (88,900). Japan was reported to have bought 88,100 over three weeks but was also shown with a negative amount of 9,800 in a fourth. In the last report they were responsible for 136,900 (73,200). Thailand purchased 77,700 (100,900); Italy 63,900 (14,600); Türkiye 22,200 (6,000); India 3,900 (10,400); Spain 2,300 and Canada 1,900. In addition to the raw hides, calf and kip trade showed Japan as the biggest customer taking 11,800 calf and kip (8,000). Italy bought 4,000 calf and kip while Mexico took 2,900 kip. China bought 1,000 calf and kip and Hong Kong 1,400 kip Wet-blue export sales saw China with 167,700 and Hong Kong with 70,900 giving them a combined total of 238,600. In the last report they jointly purchased 193,700 (185,700). Mexico again followed in second place with 66,600 (92,300), the Dominican Republic with 57,200 (37,500); Brazil 25,200 (11,900); Korea 24,200 (78,800); and Thailand 19,500 (17,700). Taiwan purchased 11,200 (2,300); Italy 4,000 (13,000); Uruguay 4,000; Spain 2,600; and India 2,000 (2,000). In the last week of the review period, 1,045,400lb wet-blue splits went directly to China and 1,039,900lb to China via Hong Kong. Italy took 528,000 lb. In two of the weeks Hong Kong took a further 192,100lb and 181,000lb but was reported as having cancelled 20,200lb in another. Indonesia also cancelled 10,000lb. China bought a further 314,000lb and Taiwan came into the market for 250,000lb. In our last report,China and Hong Kong purchased a total of 3,624,800lb against 2,103,600lb a month earlier. Federally inspected slaughter for the period ending September 22 amounted to an average of 652,000 per week (674,500) against 655,500 a year earlier.