Japan has increased its supply volumes of beef from Canada

This spring, Japan increased its beef imports from Canada due to increased retail demand and expectations that US beef imports will be limited. Japanese beef consumption remains relatively stable compared to last year, with catering sales expected to remain weak in the first half of 2021. Total beef imports to Japan in March were 54,200 tons, 4 percent less than in the previous year. Canadian imports reached 5,600 tons, 59 percent more than in the same period last year and 48 percent compared to the previous month. The Japan Supermarket Association announced that sales of meat and poultry products in April were down 9.9 percent compared to 2020, but increased by 8.4 percent compared to the same period in 2019 (before COVID). The sale of beef products was relatively stable compared to pork and poultry products, and for beef there were no deficit items. The Japan Food Service Association announced that restaurant sales in April increased by 36.7 percent compared to a year earlier, ...