EU Meat Export Opportunities in the Far East

South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China have banned some EU bovine and ovine products since the outbreak of BSE in the Union in 1997. This paper is a quick scan of market potential of EU bovine and ovine products in the four Far East Asian countries in case these countries would lift their import ban. Expected consumption growth in these Far East countries will result in further increasing imports of beef, veal and ovine meat products with approximately 500-600 million by 2015 (including edible offal), bringing the total market value of bovine and ovine products imported to some 4.3-4.4 billion in 2015. The expected increase of imports points at significant potential exports from the EU to these countries, once the import ban would be lifted. However, successful market penetration requires investments in market intelligence information and promotion activities, whereas companies should investments in marketing strategies specifically targeted to these Far East markets