For the January-March quarter, 11,250 mt are available under the European Union’s duty-free high-quality beef quota. Of that amount, 9,728 mt were already utilized through Jan. 24, with another 126.9 mt awaiting allocation. The volume available after product currently awaiting allocation clears will be 1,396 mt, or just 12 percent of the quarterly total.

While the quota is nearing full capacity for the current quarter, it is difficult to project the date on which it will be fully utilized. At this time, USMEF estimates that the quota could reach full utilization on Friday, Jan. 26 or Monday, Jan. 29. At that point, no further product will be able enter the EU under the duty-free quota until the new quarter begins on Monday, April 2.

Source: USMEF