One of the largest markets for U.S. pork and beef – Japan – has started to emerge from strict COVID-related restrictions, according to the U.S Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Japanese consumers will likely need time to adapt to a post-COVID environment, as will the country’s food service industry. USMEF leader Dan Halstrom reports from a recent visit that food service seems to be rebounding slowly.

The family-style dining sector seems to be experiencing a quicker rebound than other sectors – a positive note for pork and beef exports. While Japan remains strong in the beef market, Halstrom reports that Japanese buyers have expressed a growing interest in retail pork, lending itself to optimism for a large U.S. meat market.

Read more on Japanese beef and pork demand here.