RI's beef imports to fall this year<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The country's beef imports are expected to
\nreduce by 10 percent this year partly due to lower demand for
\nimported beef amid higher prices in the international market, a
\nsenior executive of the Association of Indonesian Beef Importers
\n(Aspidi) said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Aspidi's chairwoman Frieda Nalapraya said the country's beef
\nimports would fall to 22,500 tons this year, as compared to
\n25,000 tons last year.<\/p>\n
\"Higher beef prices in the international market, coupled with
\nabrupt fluctuations of the rupiah (value) against the dollar have
\nmade (imported beef) prices less competitive against local beef
\nprices,\" Frieda told reporters.<\/p>\n
Beef prices in the international market continue to push
\nupwards amid sagging supply following the outbreak of foot-and-
\nmouth disease and mad cow disease or bovine spongiform
\nencephalopathy (BSE) in many countries.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government banned the importation of meat and
\nother animal products from countries affected by the diseases
\nsuch as Argentina, Brazil, Peru, the Netherlands, France,
\nBelgium, Britain, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece,
\nIreland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and
\nSwitzerland.<\/p>\n
\"We can only import beef from Australia, New Zealand and the
\nU.S. which are considered free from the diseases,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Beef prices from Australia, New Zealand and the United States,
\nFrieda said, rose by on average 50 U.S. cents per kilogram in the
\nlast two months, she said.<\/p>\n
Frieda said Australia and New Zealand account for 80 percent
\nof Indonesia's total beef imports with the remaining 20 percent
\nfrom the U.S.<\/p>\n
Both local exporters and importers have been complaining that
\nthe sharp depreciation of the rupiah against the greenback over
\nthe past several months had made imported beef less affordable
\nfor domestic consumers.<\/p>\n
The rupiah, which weakened to reach above Rp 11,000 against
\nthe U.S. dollar in July, had recovered up to Rp 8,200 following
\nthe election of President Megawati Soekarnoputri late July. But,
\nthe currency depreciated again to above Rp 9,500 on Wednesday due
\nto dollar purchases by local companies for debt payment.<\/p>\n
Frieda said domestic consumption of beef was still very low at
\n1.9 kilograms per capita last year.<\/p>\n
\"But, the consumption level is likely to slip to 1.4 kilograms
\nper capita this year due to the prolonged economic crisis,\" she
\nsaid. (dmr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ris-beef-imports-to-fall-this-year-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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