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USMEF: US beef exports decreased 15 percent in June

Beef

Beef exports totaled 93,928 mt in June, down 15% from a year ago and the lowest since June 2020. Export value was $769 million, down 18% and the lowest in 17 months.

Posted on Aug 12 ,00:25

For January through June, beef exports were 6.5% below last year’s pace at 602,221 mt, while value fell 6% to $4.92 billion.

Lack of access to China not only results directly in lost business and missed opportunities, but the U.S. beef industry is also losing the premiums generated when Chinese buyers compete for cuts that are especially popular throughout Asia, such as short plate, top blade, chuck rolls and short ribs. Without exports to China, USMEF estimates the U.S. beef industry’s lost opportunity at $150 to $165 per head of fed slaughter, or about $4 billion annually.

“The June export results really underscore the urgent need to resolve this impasse with China,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “China’s tariff rate on U.S. beef is currently 32% – which is too high, but not insurmountable. The problem is, with only a few plants eligible to ship to China, the tariff rate becomes irrelevant. Consistent and transparent plant approvals, without expiration, were among the most important components of the 2020 Phase One Agreement with China, and it’s time for China to return to those commitments”,

Beef exports to leading market South Korea totaled 19,310 mt, steady with a year ago, though value fell 5% to $181 million. January-June shipments increased 8% to 126,177 mt, while value climbed 9% to $1.2 billion. While a recently announced trade deal has restored some degree of certainly to U.S.-Korea trade relations, it is still unclear whether progress will be made on Korea’s non-tariff barriers – including its restrictions on certain products from cattle under 30 months of age, a 100-days-on-feed requirement for imported Canadian cattle and a ban on beef from cattle more than 30 months of age.

But U.S. beef remains well-positioned in Korea, with a current tariff rate of just 2.7%, which will fall to zero at the beginning of next year, ahead of the competition. Before the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, U.S. beef was tariffed at 40%.  

Beef exports to Central America are on a record pace in 2025, and June was another robust month. Led by growth in Guatemala and Costa Rica, exports to the region reached 1,479 mt, up 11% from a year ago, while value soared 37% to $14 million. First-half exports to Central America totaled 11,655 mt, up 8% from a year ago, with value climbing 32% to $103.2 million. Exports to Guatemala are on pace to set a record for the ninth consecutive year in 2025, while shipments to Panama are also on a record pace.

June beef exports to Mexico were also steady with last year at 17,066 mt, while value increased 9% to $107.2 million. Shipments to Mexico closed the first half of the year at 106,088 mt, down 7% from a year ago, while value was down 2% to $647.3 million.

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

• Robust growth in Chile, an ongoing rebound in Colombia and the largest volume of the year to Peru fueled strong June beef exports to South America. June shipments totaled 1,818 mt, up 33% from a year ago, while value soared 94% to $14.2 million. While January-June exports to the region were up just 3% in volume (9,588 mt), value climbed an impressive 39%. Growth was primarily led by Chile but demand is recovering in Colombia, where access was restricted for much of 2024 due to avian influenza-related restrictions. Full access to Colombia was restored in late September.
• Beef variety meat exports to Egypt had trended lower for the past few months but rebounded in June to 3,522 mt, up 16% from a year ago and the highest since January. Export value climbed 39% to $6.4 million. January-June beef variety meat exports to Egypt were 5% below last year’s pace at 19,129 mt, but value increased 12% to $34.7 million. The U.S. industry also received great news from the Middle East last week when restrictions related to halal certification were lifted in United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE is traditionally the region’s largest market for U.S. beef muscle cuts, while most exports to Egypt are livers and other variety meat.
• June beef exports to Africa, which are also primarily variety meat, totaled 1,191 mt, up 73% from a year ago, while export value doubled to just under $2 million. Beef variety meat exports were led by growth in Cote D’Ivoire, Morocco and Gabon, January-June shipments to Africa increased 21% from a year ago to 7,165 mt, valued at $11.4 million (up 37%).
• As noted above, China is all but closed to U.S. beef, with only a handful of plants eligible to ship. June exports plummeted to just 3,104 mt, down 77% from a year ago, while value fell 80% to $24.1 million. Despite a fairly strong start to the year, January-June exports to China totaled 54,522 mt, down 38% from a year ago, while value fell 40% to $473.4 million.
• June beef exports to Japan totaled 19,993 mt, down 10% from a year ago, while value declined 19% to $147.3 million. First-half exports to Japan were down 2% to 124,005 mt, valued at $920.3 million (down 6%). The Trump administration recently announced a trade and investment agreement with Japan, but major changes in beef market access are not anticipated. Japan’s tariff rate on U.S. beef is currently the highest of any major import market at 21.6%, but it phases to 9% by 2033 under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement signed in 2020. U.S. beef is on a level playing field with Japan’s other major suppliers, but Australia is also shipping less beef to Japan as demand has suffered from the combination of a weak yen, high import duties, and lack of consumer income growth.
• Beef exports equated to $392.72 per head of fed slaughter in June, down 14% from a year ago (again, reflecting the absence of China). The January-June average was $410.00, down 2% from the first half of 2024. Exports accounted for 13.1% of total June beef production and 10.9% for muscle cuts, down from the very high ratios of 15% and 12.8%, respectively, in June 2024. For January through June, exports accounted for 13.5% of total beef production and 11.3% for muscle cuts, each down about one-half percentage point from the first half of last year.

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