By Kim Se-jeong
The majority of imported beef sold in Korea comes from Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Mexico. To the surprise of many, Paraguayan beef will be sold for the first time here.
The Paraguayan Embassy in Seoul said the South Korean company Songsukwon will bring in cans of rib, tail and tendon from the Paraguayan firm Saice.
The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service said beef from Paraguay is required to be processed using heat before accepted as an import.
From Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and the United States, frozen and refrigerated beef is permitted.
Even live herds of cattle from New Zealand and Australia are sold to Korea.
The Ambassador of Paraguay to Korea Ceferino Adrian Valdez Peralta said this is positive news.
“Korea is a new and difficult market. But this is proof that we can work together,” he said, adding that he hopes it marks the beginning of expanding commercial ties between the two countries.
The Latin American nation has risen as a big meat exporter.
Last year, Paraguay exported more than 230,000 tons of meat, close to Argentina, a traditional meat exporter.
The Financial Times recently quoted Daniel Rojas, president of Paraguay’s National Service of Animal Quality and Health, as saying the year 2011 aims to be “a new record year” in beef, which is the second export product after soy beans.
According to data from the Paraguayan Embassy in Seoul, Chile and Russia are two largest importers of Paraguayan meat.