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USMEF: December beef exports largest in eight months, but lack of access to China persists

Beef

December beef exports were the largest in eight months, but full-year shipments fell substantially year-over-year, largely due to the ongoing trade impasse with China, according to year-end data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Posted on Feb 25 ,00:15

December beef exports totaled 98,595 mt, down 10.5% from a year ago but the largest since April (access to China was largely lost in March). Export value was $809.2 million, down 10% but also the highest since April. December shipments increased year-over-year to Taiwan, the Middle East, ASEAN, Caribbean, South America and Hong Kong, were steady to Japan and fell only modestly to Korea, Mexico and Canada. But exports to China were minimal, offsetting gains elsewhere. When excluding China, December beef exports increased 4% year-over-year in volume and were 6% higher in value.

For the full calendar year, beef exports were down 12% from 2024 in volume (1.14 million mt) and were 11% lower in value ($9.33 billion). But excluding China, 2025 exports were down 3% in volume and just 0.4% in value.

“Global demand for U.S. beef – where it’s available to the millions of consumers who love it – has remained strong despite tight supplies and numerous headwinds,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “USMEF is encouraged by recent market access gains in some markets, but implementation remains key and the industry looks forward to capitalizing on these wins. But for U.S. beef exports to hit on all cylinders and help maximize the value of every animal, it is imperative that access to China is fully restored.”

With a steady December performance, Japan maintained its position as the leading volume market for U.S. beef exports. December shipments totaled 18,646 mt valued at $135.5 million, both steady with a year ago. This included more than 5,000 mt of beef variety meat (mostly tongues and skirts), up 47% from a year ago, while the value of these shipments climbed 49% to $45.3 million. Combined beef and beef variety meat exports to Japan reached 237,975 mt in 2025, down 2% year-over-year, while value fell 6% to $1.76 billion.

Exports to Korea, the leading value market for U.S. beef, were modestly lower in December but finished 2025 steady with a year ago at 232,175 mt. Export value was slightly higher at $2.23 billion – the third highest on record and the fifth consecutive year that shipments to Korea have exceeded $2 billion in value. In 2026, U.S. beef reached zero-duty status under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Before this FTA entered into force in 2012, U.S. beef entering Korea was tariffed at 40%.

December beef exports to Taiwan totaled 6,569 mt, up 7% from a year ago. Although down 2% year-over-year, export value was the highest of 2025 at $75.3 million. Exports to Taiwan rallied late in the year but still finished 2025 down 6% year-over-year in both volume (58,714 mt) and value ($667.6 million). The reciprocal trade agreement with Taiwan (linked above) will eliminate tariffs on U.S. beef, as well as outdated non-tariff barriers related to BSE.

Other 2025 export results for U.S. beef include:

• Despite a slight decline in volume, beef export value to Central America shattered the previous record in 2025. Although shipments to the region were down 5% from 2024’s record volume at 20,724 mt, export value soared 26% to $201.3 million, led by exports to Guatemala topping $105 million, an increase of nearly $27 million from the previous year’s record. Exports also achieved annual value records in Panama, Honduras and Nicaragua.   
• December beef exports to Mexico were down 4% from a year ago in volume (19,818 mt) but still climbed 4% in value ($118.2 million). Full-year exports to Mexico were down 10% from 2024 at 209,094 mt, but value fell just 3% to $1.3 million. These results included more than 115,000 mt of beef variety meat, valued at $323.4 million. December variety meat shipments were valued at $35.8 million, up 29%.
• The largest variety meat shipments to Egypt in 11 months and a continued rebound for muscle cuts to the United Arab Emirates pushed December beef exports to the Middle East to 4,816 mt, up 48% from a year ago, while value increased 52% to $21.8 million. Full-year exports to the region were down 2% in volume (51,338 mt) but still increased 4% in value ($239.7 million).
• Fueled by growth in the Dominican Republic, December beef exports to the Caribbean increased 9% from a year ago to 2,948 mt, while value climbed 16% to $30.9 million. Shipments to the region fell slightly in volume in 2025 (31,119 mt, down 4%) but increased 11% in value, reaching $314.1 million. Exports were record-large to the DR, Netherlands Antilles, Leeward-Windward Islands, Turks and Caicos and Cayman Islands.
• Beef exports to South America saw modest volume growth in 2025, up 3% from a year ago to 19,861 mt. But export value soared 34% to $152.2 million, led by robust demand in Chile ($59.7 million, up 28%) and an ongoing rebound in Colombia ($40.8 million, up 77%). Exports to Peru also increased in value ($36.3 million, up 17%) despite a decline in volume.
• Beef exports to the ASEAN region declined sharply in 2025, falling 15% in volume (35,844 mt) and 20% in value ($273.1 million). But a newly announced agreement with Indonesia includes tremendous market access gains for U.S. beef. USMEF offers more details on the agreement in this statement.
• Variety meat exports were a major bright spot for U.S. beef in December, increasing 20% from a year ago to 28,394 mt, the highest since May 2022. These shipments were valued at a record $122.1 million – up 47%. In addition to growth in Japan, Mexico and Egypt, shipments increased to Taiwan, Chile, Peru and Jamaica. For 2025, beef variety meat exports were down 6% in volume (270,606 mt) but were just 1% lower in value ($1.08 billion).
• As previously noted, U.S. beef has been effectively locked out of China for several months due to China’s failure to renew plant and cold storage facility registrations and its unjustified suspension of many plants for technical reasons. Exports to China finished 2025 dramatically lower year-over-year in both volume (59,403 mt, down 48%) and value ($497.6 million, down 69%). But shipments have been minimal since April, following the expiration of most facilities on March 16.  
• December beef export value equated to $393.13 per head of fed slaughter, down 11% from a year ago. The 2025 average was $391.94, down 6%. Exports accounted for 12.5% of total December beef production and 9.5% of beef muscle cuts, down from 14.6% and 12.3%, respectively, in December 2024. The full-year ratios were 12.7% of total production and 10.4% for muscle cuts, each down just over one full percentage point from 2024. The lower per-head average and the smaller ratios exported largely reflect the loss of the China market.

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