China, a good customer of U.S. pork but seldom a factor in beef purchases, showed up as a big buyer of beef at the very end of the 2011 marketing year in the latest USDA weekly export summary.

USDA reports exports of 23,300 metric tons (mt) for China through Dec. 31, along with 800 mt for South Korea and Japan each, and 400 mt for Mexico.

Accumulated U.S. beef exports for 2011 were up 31% from the previous year.

To see the full article, click here.