USA USMEF: Another slow month for beef in July
Beef With shipments to China nearly halted due to a lack of eligible plants, July beef exports totaled 89,579 mt, down 19% from a year ago and the lowest in five years. Export value declined 17% to $752.5 million, the lowest since January 2023. From January through July, exports were 8% below last year in volume (691,800 mt) and down 7.5% in value ($5.67 billion).
Posted on Sep 09 ,00:30
USMEF: Another slow month for beef in July
The decline was largely due to China’s failure to renew registrations for the vast majority of U.S. beef plants and cold storage facilities, most of which expired in March. China has also suspended 11 U.S. beef facilities since June.
“The plant registration impasse with China unfortunately drags on, and it has left U.S. beef essentially shut out of the market after exporters worked through their eligible inventories”, said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Demand elsewhere has remained fairly resilient, even in the face of higher pricing, but restoring access to China is clearly the urgent priority. Export value and share of production exported declined in July, reflecting the loss of competing bids from Chinese buyers”.
July was a robust month for beef exports to leading market South Korea, with shipments climbing 13% from a year ago to 19,907 mt. Export value increased 10% to $186.4 million. Through July, exports to Korea were 9% above last year’s pace in both volume (146,084 mt) and value ($1.39 billion).
President Trump announced a trade deal with Korea at the end of July, but no details on agricultural trade have yet been released.
Korea still maintains a ban on U.S. beef from cattle more than 30 months of age, and restricts certain products derived from cattle less than 30 months of age. Korea also continues to require Canadian cattle be fed for at least 100 days in the United States. All are BSE-related restrictions that are out of line with international standards. Removing these barriers would expand opportunities for U.S. exporters, to the tune of $140 million annually.
Strong demand in Korea could not offset the sharp decline in July beef exports to China, which plunged 92% from a year ago to just 1,110 mt. Export value dropped 94% to less than $8 million. Despite a fairly strong first quarter, January-July exports to China were down 46% to 55,632 mt, while value fell 47% to $481.4 million. In 2024, China was the third largest value market for U.S. beef exports and the fourth largest volume market,
U.S.-China trade negotiations are ongoing, with China’s total tariff rate on U.S. beef currently standing at 32%. While this is a significant disadvantage, the most stifling trade barrier is the lack of beef plants eligible to export to China. Until Chinese regulators renew U.S. plant registrations, relist suspended facilities and return to other commitments outlined in the U.S.-China Phase One Agreement, shipments will continue to be minimal.
Other January-July results for U.S. beef exports include:
- Led by growth in the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Leeward-Windward Islands, July beef exports to the Caribbean totaled 2,458 mt, up 7% from a year ago, while value climbed 20% to $24.3 million. Through July, export value to the region increased 13% to $184.5 million, despite a 6% decline in volume (18,645 mt).
- Although July beef exports to Central America were modestly lower than a year ago (1,353 mt, down 4%), value still increased 36% to $14 million, and exports to top market Guatemala were up 9% to 756 mt. Through July, exports to the region were 7% above last year’s record pace in volume (13,008 mt), while value soared 32% to $117.2 million.
- Fueled by strong demand in Chile, July beef exports to South America totaled 1,756 mt, up 24% from a year ago, while value increased 57% to $13 million. July beef variety meat exports to Peru were the largest of the year at 520 mt. January-July shipments to the region increased 6% to 11,344 mt, while value climbed an impressive 41% to $83.6 million.
- Beef exports to Africa, which are mainly variety meat, have trended higher in 2025, driven by strong shipments to Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco and Gabon. July exports were up 14% from a year ago to 934 mt, while value increased 60% to just under $2 million. Through July, shipments to Africa increased 20% to 8,099 mt, while value climbed 40% to $13.3 million.
- Driven in part by larger variety meat shipments, July beef exports to the Philippines increased 51% from a year ago to 1,921 mt, valued at $12.5 million (up 9%). Through July, exports to the Philippines increased 11% to 10,019 mt, while value was up 4% to $79.1 million. This included a sharp increase in variety meat exports, which were up 73% in volume (838 mt) and 72% in value ($2.1 million).
- July beef exports to Japan were down 4% from a year ago to 21,048 mt, while value fell 10% to $156.7 million. Through July, exports to Japan were down 3% in volume (145,053 mt) and 7% in value ($1.08 billion).
- Mexico’s demand for U.S. beef softened in July, with exports totaling 15,973 mt, down 24% from a year ago, and value falling 10% to $110.8 million. Through July, exports to Mexico were down 9% in volume (122,061 mt) and 3% in value ($758.1 mt). For muscle cut volume, Brazil is now the largest supplier of beef to Mexico.
- Beef exports to Taiwan continued to trend lower in July, falling 24% from a year ago to 4,655 mt, while value declined 26% to $51.2 million. January-July exports were down 12% to 32,521 mt, while value fell 8% to $372.5 million.
- Though not affecting the July export results, halal-related trade barriers were recently minimized for U.S. beef in two key markets. U.S. beef entering the United Arab Emirates is no longer limited to the Port of Dubai and no longer restricted to the foodservice sector. The Indonesian government has also taken steps to reopen the market to U.S. beef, ending an impasse that had halted most U.S. shipments.
- July beef exports equated to $368.09 per head of fed slaughter, down 12% from a year ago. Through July, the per-head average was down 4% to $403.89. Exports accounted for 11.9% of total July beef production and 10% for muscle cuts, down significantly from the respective July 2024 ratios of 14% and 11.6%. For January through July, exports accounted for 13.3% of total production and 11.1% of muscle cuts, down from 14.1% and 11.8%, respectively, during the same period last year.
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