Slaughter still running ahead of last year

During the four-week period ended April 28, 2007, Federally Inspected Slaughter showed an average weekly kill of 634,750, up from the 629,500 in our last report. This compares with an average of 621,750 in the same period the previous year and represents a 2.9% increase over 2006.   USDA have approved Japan's request to conduct more audits of US beef processing plants as an important first step in efforts to expand US beef trade in Japan.   And for the first time in three years, South Korea accepted a shipment of US beef having rejected three previous shipments since officially re-opening their market in September 2006.   Export figures over the four-week period to April 19 showed China maintaining top position with 664,500 raw hides (535,000, 626,500, 640,900) down from a high of 1,062,100.   Hong Kong was in seventh place with 42,800 (27,100, 32,700, 50,200) giving them a combined total with China of 707,300.   Taiwan came in second with 258,900 (223,200, 152,900, 93,900), pushing Korea into third place with 257,200 (365,400, 350,300, 234,200).   Mexico came next with 76,400 (123,400, 1,000,000, 99,100), followed by Japan with 60,500 (105,200, 107,600, 77,900) and Vietnam with 59,100 (70,900, 28,400, 13,900).   Thailand was in eighth position with 20,500 (127,400, 80,900, 43,600); then Canada bought 12,600 (6,600, 12,700); India 11,300; Italy 6,300 (13,500, 7,100, 2,700) and Spain 2,900 (9,800, 13,900, 3,100).   Small amounts were purchased by Croatia with 800 (800) and Türkiye 600 (1,900, 1,100).   Calf and kip were taken up by four main buyers: Italy with 8,100 calf and kip (26,100, 900); Holland with 8,000 kip (11,200); Japan 6,600 (500 calf, 5,900 kip); and China 1,200 kip.   When it came to wet-blues, China once more took the lead with 140,200 (229,400) which with Hong Kong's 62,00 (59,700) gave them a combined total of 202,200 (289,100).   Mexico took second place with 62,000 (95,100, 93,100, 27,100) followed by Korea with 47,100 (20,300, 22,500, 15,200); the Dominican Republic with 536,300 (51,600, 35,700, 37,100); and Taiwan 27,800 (12,500, 19,700, 72,000).   Next up were Thailand with 16,500 (5,100, 32,100); Germany 12,200 (1,800, 7,600); South Africa 6,000; India with 3,400 (3,000, 2,000); and El Salvador 2,400 (1,500).   Hong Kong and China combined to buy the bulk of the wet-blue splits (1,033,400lb and 124,100lb respectively) giving a combined total of 353,620. Korea managed a sizeable chunk with 1,925,200lb (537,000).