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USMEF: Bright spots for October beef exports include Japan, Taiwan, Caribbean, Colombia

Beef

Beef exports totaled 93,448 mt in October, down 11% year-over-year but the largest since June and 16% above the low volume posted in September. Export value was also the highest since June at $759.5 million, down 12% from a year ago but 15% above September.

Posted on Jan 15 ,00:30

October beef exports increased year-over-year to Japan, Taiwan, Canada, the ASEAN region and the Dominican Republic, while also jumping sharply to Colombia. But these gains were more than offset by lack of access to China, which has reduced exports to minimal volumes for the past several months. For markets other than China, October beef exports were up 5% year-over-year in volume and up 7% in value.

January-October beef exports totaled 949,471 mt, down 11% from the 2024 pace, while value was down 10% to $7.79 billion. When excluding China from these results, exports were down 3% in volume and just 1% in value compared to the first 10 months of 2024.

“The latest export data confirm what I consistently hear from customers across the world and from our international staff – that global demand for U.S. red meat remains robust, despite tight supplies and formidable market access barriers,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Obviously, regaining access for U.S. beef in China is our most urgent priority, as industry losses from this lockout are enormous. But we are also hopeful that ongoing trade negotiations will remove barriers in other destinations where consumers have a growing appetite for high-quality red meat”.

With a strong October performance, Japan maintained its position as the leading volume destination for U.S. beef exports. October exports to Japan totaled 19,734 mt, up 17% from a year ago, while value increased 16% to $149.8 million. It was an especially robust month for beef variety meat shipments to Japan (mainly tongues and skirts), which topped $50 million in value for the first time since July 2022.  For January through October, beef and beef variety meat exports to Japan were down 2% year-over-year to 201,221 mt, while value fell 6% to $1.49 billion.

South Korea is the leading value destination for U.S. beef, but exports took a step back in October as shipments fell 15% year-over-year to 16,690 mt, valued at $153 million (down 20%). Through the first 10 months of 2025, beef exports to Korea remained 3% higher in both volume (194,407 mt) and value ($1.85 billion) compared to the same period in 2024.

Although beef exports slowed to Taiwan in 2025, October brought a welcome rebound. October shipments to Taiwan totaled 5,475 mt, the largest since June and the second highest monthly total for the year. October shipments were up 41% from the low volume posted in October 2024, while value was up 16% to $56.2 million.

Other January-October results for U.S. beef exports include:

• While October beef exports to Central America were lower than a year ago at 1,873 mt (down 15%), export value still increased 26% to $21.5 million. In fact, with two months remaining, beef export value to Central America already surpassed the full-year record set in 2024. January-October exports to the region were valued at $172.1 million, up 30% from the previous year’s pace, while volume was steady at 17,875 mt. Exports to Guatemala, the largest market in the region, are on pace to set an annual record for the 11th consecutive year in 2025.
• Led by growth in the Dominican Republic, beef exports to the Caribbean reached 2,592 mt in October, up 5% from a year ago. Export value surged 22% to $27.5 million, the highest since May. January-October shipments to the region increased 13% in value ($258.7 million) despite a 4% decline in volume (25,743 mt). Exports to the Cayman Islands will be record-large in 2025, while exports to the Bahamas should be the highest since 2011.
• October beef exports to South America were steady with the previous year at 1,527 mt, but value soared 80% to $17.5 million. Growth was driven by Colombia, where shipments climbed 141% in volume (594 mt) and nearly quadrupled in value ($8.2 million) compared to the low totals of October 2024. At that time, Colombia had just lifted avian influenza-related restrictions on U.S. beef, which were in place for about six months. For January through October, beef exports to South America increased 3% to 15,810 mt, while value climbed 38% to $121.9 million. In addition to the rebound in Colombia, exports were also substantially higher to Chile.
• Beef exports to Canada reached 9,392 mt in October, up 23% from a year ago and the largest since July 2024. Export value climbed 37% to $83.3 million, the highest since June. January-October shipments to Canada were 3% below the previous year’s pace in volume (81,250 mt) and 2% lower in value ($743.1 million).
• With the market effectively closed to U.S. beef, October exports to China were minimal at 584 mt, down 97% from a year ago. Export value was just $3.3 million, down 98%. These results drove the January-October totals 61% below the 2024 pace at 57,634 mt, while value fell 63% to $490 million.
• October beef export value equated to $364.78 per head of fed slaughter, down 4% from a year ago. The January-October average was $390.28 per head, down 5% from the same period in 2024. Exports accounted for 11.7% of total October beef production and 9.1% for muscle cuts, down from 12.5% and 10.3%, respectively, in October 2024. The January-October ratios were 12.8% of total production and 10.5% for muscle cuts, each down one full percentage point from a year ago.

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