In this week’s audio report from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), Joel Haggard, USMEF senior vice president for the Asia Pacific, discusses recently revised regulations to Indonesia’s restrictive import policies, which will now allow for imports of all beef muscle cuts and a range of beef variety meat items including livers, hearts, lungs, tails, tongues and feet.

A large population and expanding economy are two of the traits that give the Indonesian market significant promise for U.S. beef exports, but the restrictive import policies had made it difficult for the U.S. to find sustained success as an exporter to Indonesia.

With domestic beef in short supply and prices rising, Indonesian officials recently announced an easing of beef import restrictions, which comes as welcome news for U.S. exporters. Though multiple restrictions are still in place, U.S. beef exports to Indonesia were up more than 400 percent year-over-year in the first half of 2016, reaching 3,271 metric tons, and more than doubled in value to just under $15 million.

Haggard is hopeful that more U.S. processing plants will soon become eligible to serve Indonesia, a move that could further enhance U.S. beef’s presence in the market.

Listen to the full report here:
USMEF Reports on Indonesia Beef Access