AUSTRALIAN beef exports to Japan, the industry's biggest overseas market, are holding up well amid global financial turmoil, indicating exports will hold firm in the months ahead, David Palmer, managing director of marketing concern Meat & Livestock Australia Ltd., said today.

In the first 10 months of this year, beef shipments to Japan totaled 305,774 boneless metric tons, down 2.8 per cent on the year-earlier period, and accounting for around 40% of total exports. Exports to Japan in October alone of 30,406 tons were down 8.0 per cent on year, according to official data.

"The Japanese market for Australian beef has shown remarkable resilience throughout this unprecedented period of financial uncertainty," Palmer said in a statement.

"Australian exports will hold firm in the coming months as we ride out this perfect storm in financial markets," he said.

Demand for beef - seen by many as a premium food item - can soften during periods of economic downturn.

Palmer and MLA Chairman Don Heatley are in Japan promoting the safety and integrity of Australian beef and lamb at Aussie Forums, which explain Australia's the supply situation and safety, livestock quality and traceability systems important to the Japanese industry.

About 300 Japanese importers, wholesalers, retailers, butchers, chefs, foodservice representatives and media attended Tuesday's forum in Osaka while Thursday's forum in Tokyo will attract nearly 600 attendees.

Australia is the world's second-largest beef exporter after Brazil with shipments valued at A$4.4 billion in the last fiscal year ended June 30.

Other major Australian beef export markets include the U.S., South Korea and Russia, while Indonesia and Taiwan are important secondary markets.

 By Ray Brindal, Dow Jones Newswires;