General Rise in Canadian Red Meat Stocks

OTTAWA - May 30/02 - STAT -- There was a general increase in the quantity of red meat held in cold storage in Canada during April, with total stocks up sharply over year and month earlier levels.

Data assembled by Statistics Canada revealed there was a total of 91,275 metric tons (MT) of red meat in cold storage as of May 1, up 13.2% since April 1 and up a massive 28.2% from year earlier levels.

Pork remains the biggest category, from a volume perspective, with May opening with 47,088 MT on hand. This was up 7.9% from April 1 and 23.8% above year earlier levels.

The biggest monthly change within the category was recorded by pork loins, up 22.4% at 3,591 MT and ribs, up 15.9% at 4,681 MT. Compared to the previous year, the biggest increase was in pork bellies, nearly doubling to 1,339 MT, followed by loins and ribs.

Beef stocks opened May at 31,037 MT, rising 17.3% during the month for a 25.2% increase over year earlier levels. All the annual increase was registered by boneless beef, which rose 29.7% to 27,914 MT, while bone-in beef dropped 4.9% to 3,123 MT.

Stocks of veal advanced 35.6% during the month to 1,071 MT; while the quantity of lamb on hand dropped 24.6% during April to 1,341 MT.

                   Canada -- Red Meat in Cold Storage
                             (metric tons)
                          May      April        May       Month      Annual
Pork                     2001       2002       2002      Change      Change
Hams                    5,457      5,643      6,205    + 10.0 %    + 13.7 %
Loins                   2,032      2,933      3,591    + 22.4 %    + 76.7 %
Bellies                   689      1,217      1,339    + 10.0 %    + 94.3 %
Butts                   2,194      2,290      2,886    + 26.0 %    + 31.5 %
Picnics                 2,208      2,917      2,691     - 7.7 %    + 21.9 %
Ribs                    3,026      4,038      4,681    + 15.9 %    + 54.7 %
Backs and Shoulders     2,814      2,559      2,322     - 9.3 %    - 17.5 %
Trimmings               7,868      9,288     10,341    + 11.3 %    + 31.4 %
Unclassified           11,758     12,760     13,032     + 2.1 %    + 10.8 %
Total Pork             38,046     43,645     47,088     + 7.9 %    + 23.8 %
Beef
Beef, bone-in           3,284      2,595      3,123    + 20.3 %     - 4.9 %
Beef, boneless         21,514     23,860     27,914    + 17.0 %    + 29.7 %
Total Beef             24,798     26,455     31,037    + 17.3 %    + 25.2 %
Veal
Veal, bone-in             111        325        608    + 87.1 %   + 447.7 %
Veal, boneless            521        465        463     - 0.4 %    - 11.1 %
Total Veal                631        790      1,071    + 35.6 %    + 69.7 %
Mutton and Lamb
Total Mutton and Lamb   1,331      1,779      1,341    - 24.6 %     + 0.8 %
Fancy Meats
Pork fancy meats        2,146      4,466      6,870    + 53.8 %   + 220.1 %
Beef fancy meats        4,006      3,225      3,520     + 9.1 %    - 12.1 %
Veal fancy meats           30        102        138    + 35.3 %   + 360.0 %
Lamb fancy meats          195        191        210     + 9.9 %     + 7.7 %
Total Fancy Meats       6,377      7,984     10,738    + 34.5 %    + 68.4 %
Total Red Meat         71,185     80,653     91,275    + 13.2 %    + 28.2 %
SOURCE: Statistics Canada