Pork and beef imports by South Korea, the sixth-biggest buyer of U.S. pork in 2009, may climb this year as the nation culls swine and cattle to fight its worst outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, an industry group said.
Pork imports may jump 15 percent to 20 percent from about 179,500 metric tons in 2010, said Choi Jong Sun, chairman of the Korea Meat Import Association. Beef purchases may also gain as importers hold low inventories after deferring imports last year on high prices, he said by phone, without giving a forecast.
The fifth-largest buyer of U.S. beef and veal in 2009 is destroying about 2.3 million animals, mostly swine and cattle, or about 17 percent of herds, in its biggest cull. U.S. cattle futures jumped to a record on Jan. 18 and hog prices have gained on speculation that demand for U.S. meat exports will increase.
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