By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff Reporter

One month after being on offer again at major local retailers, U.S. beef has surpassed other imported and even home raised meat in sales.

According to Sunday reports from E-Mart, Homeplus and Lottemart, the country's top three discount franchises, combined sales at the outlets amounted to 1,276.1 tons of U.S. beef in the month starting Nov. 27, when the American products hit the shelves again.

In the same period, sales of Australian beef reached 1,128.7 tons, down nearly 17 percent from the previous year, while homegrown cattle, ``hanwoo,'' saw sales grow 5 percent to 712.2 tons. Pork sales also jumped more than 20 percent to 3,515.5 tons.

E-Mart sold the most American beef at 570 tons, followed by Homeplus and Lottemart with 460.6 tons and 245.5 tons, respectively.

Data show U.S. beef dealt a blow to Australian beef, which had been the leader in the market in the absence of its American rival, but the meat market here was boosted in general, an E-Mart spokesman said on condition of anonymity, adding sales of meat products have risen 23 percent since the resumption of American beef sales.

"Consumers have a greater variety of meat with U.S. beef added to the list, possibly explaining the overall increase in sales," the spokesman said.

South Korea allowed U.S. beef full access to the market in June after months of controversial negotiations, but large retailers didn't immediately resume sales until November for fear of protests from consumers and civic groups.

South Korea was the third-largest market for U.S. beef exports before they were banned in December 2003 after a mad cow disease outbreak.

Imports of beef from cattle slaughtered before 30 months of age were allowed in 2006 but were suspended when bone fragments were discovered in shipments later in the year. A revision of the deal on quarantine inspections was agreed upon between the two countries in April.

hckim@koreatimes.co.kr