The crisis surrounding the destructive earthquake & tsunami that ravaged Japan continues to deepen & expand every day. While the loss of life has been devastating the impact of this natural disaster on the trade around the world is also now unfolding.
With Japan being Australias largest beef export market the long-term effects of this disaster may be closer to home than we realise.
Infrastructure is a key issue with many ports in northern Japan being heavily damaged. Transportation is also problem with fuel in short supply & many of the key highways being reserved for emergency vehicle use only. Power supplies have also been interrupted with the power grid not operational in many areas. This has created large problems with refrigerated cold storage facilities. All of these problems limit product distribution & create large trade implications, especially for perishable products such as beef.
However, in perspective these widespread impacts of the earthquake are minor compared to the crisis that is still unfolding in Japan as we speak.
