Fueled by growth in India’s output, world beef production will increase by 0.6 percent to 57.525 million metric tons in 2013, which would mark the second straight year global beef output slightly rose, according to the semiannual Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade circular issued Thursday by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
India is estimated to have more than 327 million cattle by Jan. 1, by far the world’s largest herd. No. 2, Brazil, is expected to have nearly 204 million, and the United States will have just under 90 million by that date, the report said.
India will be the fourth largest beef producer, but the largest beef exporter in the world, FAS said.
India is projected to produce some 4.2 million metric tons of beef, an increase of 14 percent from its 2012 production and a 63 percent leap from 2008. The country will send half of that total overseas in 2013, representing about 25 percent of all world beef trade.
“Rising demand for low-cost product fueled by many smaller, emerging and price sensitive Asian and Middle Eastern markets” will drive India’s beef exports, FAS said.
The United States will remain the world’s largest beef producer despite dipping 3.3 percent to about 11.3 million metric tons in 2013. U.S. beef exports also are expected to decline by 11 percent to 1.1 million metric tons.
Brazil, the No. 2 producer, will increase output about 2 percent to some 9.4 million metric tons. Brazil’s exports at nearly 1.5 million metric tons are forecast to recover at the same pace as 2012 (4 percent), according to the report.
Source: meatingplace
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