Import prices of U.S. beef have been surging in Japan, making procurement hard for traders and dining facilities such as barbecue restaurants.
Behind the spike in prices are the yen's recent sharp depreciation against the dollar, a reduced supply of beef from U.S. farmers and fierce competition for American beef with countries such as South Korea and Mexico.
In search of cheaper foreign beef, related Japanese sectors are stepping up efforts to diversify procurement sources. Securing the amount needed appears difficult, however. Normally priced at reasonable levels, imported beef is now expected to be unaffordable for budget-minded consumers in Japan.