Fueled by a near-record performance in Taiwan and a rebound in South Korea, August exports of U.S. beef increased year-over-year, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Beef exports reached 86,362 metric tons (mt) in August, up 4% from a year ago, while export value climbed 13% to $785.9 million. In addition to year-over-year growth in Taiwan and Korea, August exports also trended higher to the Middle East, the ASEAN region, Colombia and Cote d’Ivoire, while volumes were steady to Mexico and Central America. Export value increased to Japan and the Caribbean in August, despite lower volumes. Beef exports to China were above last year’s minimal total, but still reflected ongoing technical trade barriers.
“USMEF expected to see stronger beef exports to Korea in the second half of the year, as reflected in the August data,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “And I cannot say enough about the outstanding demand in Taiwan, which has truly been a star performer for U.S. beef in 2026. As for China, the August increase is just a fraction of what would be possible in that market, especially since Australian beef has faced a 55% safeguard tariff since June 20. But China still needs to relist suspended facilities and the U.S. industry needs further clarity on technical requirements before beef exports to China will significantly rebound.”
For January through August, beef exports were down 7% year-over-year in volume (721,150 mt) and were just 1% lower in value ($6.32 billion). This decline is largely attributable to lower exports to China compared to the early months of 2025, before market access obstacles began to heavily impact U.S. exports. When excluding China from the January-August results, beef exports were 1% below last year in volume but 6% higher in value.
Taiwan, Korea, Middle East drive strong August beef export value
August beef exports to Taiwan reached the second highest value on record at $85.5 million, up 35% from a year ago and just short of the April 2022 record ($86.1 million). Export volume was 6,753 mt, up 37% year-over-year and the sixth largest on record. Through the first eight months of the year, exports to Taiwan were 15% above last year’s pace at 42,900 mt, while value climbed 18% to $514.7 million.
With U.S. beef largely absent from China, Taiwan is mounting a strong challenge to Canada’s position ($520.1 million) as the fourth highest value destination for U.S. beef in 2026. The United States is Taiwan’s dominant supplier of chilled beef, capturing 68% of Taiwan’s chilled import market.
Exports to Korea, the leading value destination for U.S. beef, reached 19,195 mt in August, up 14% from a year ago and above year-ago levels for the first time since January. Export value climbed 20% to $201 million, the second highest this year. As USMEF previously noted, Korea’s beef import market had been skewed to some degree this year due to importers’ stockpiling of frozen Australian beef in anticipation of imports triggering Korea’s higher safeguard tariff rate (24% versus the normal 5%). Korea’s imports from Australia surpassed the safeguard threshold in late July, expanding opportunities for U.S. beef. For January through August, beef exports to Korea were down 8% from a year ago in volume (149,092 mt) and were 3% lower in value ($1.51 billion).
August beef exports to the Middle East increased 4% from a year ago to 3,841 mt, while value soared 73% as the region took a higher ratio of muscle cuts. August shipments to the United Arab Emirates were the largest in four years, while exports to Kuwait were the largest since 2024 and exports to Qatar were the largest in 11 months. Exports to Saudi Arabia also trended higher year-over-year. An Export Verification Program for Saudi Arabia was removed in April, greatly expanding the eligible share of U.S. beef production. This has helped export value to Saudi Arabia climb 62% through August, reaching nearly $9 million. January-August exports to the Middle East were 2% higher in value at $157 million, despite an 11% decline in volume (29,539 mt).
Other January-August export results for U.S. beef include:
- Japan: August beef exports to Japan achieved a 2% increase in value ($140 million) despite a 13% decline in volume. The January-August trend was similar, with exports holding steady with last year in value ($1.21 billion) despite dropping 8% in volume (151,479 mt). Even with this decline, Japan maintained its position as the leading volume destination for U.S. beef and beef variety meats, just ahead of Korea.
- ASEAN Region: A rebound in Indonesia and robust growth in Vietnam have driven beef exports to the ASEAN region higher in 2026. August exports to the ASEAN increased slightly in volume (2,694 mt) and climbed 22% in value ($23.5 million). These results pushed January-August exports to 22,897 mt, up 20% from a year ago, valued at $207.1 million (up 38%). While the U.S. industry welcomes this year’s increase (versus minimal 2025 levels) in exports to Indonesia, the country still maintains numerous non-tariff barriers that U.S. trade officials are working to eliminate through a reciprocal trade agreement.
- Caribbean: While August beef exports to the Caribbean were slightly below last year in volume (2,494 mt), export value still increased 19% to $31.2 million. Fueled by strong growth in the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, the Netherlands Antilles, Leeward-Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, January-August exports to the region increased 7% to 22,747 mt, while value soared 25% to $262.8 million.
- South America: Thriving demand for variety meat in Peru and for muscle cuts in Colombia have driven beef exports to South America higher in 2026. Through August, exports to the region were 8% above last year in volume (13,827 mt) and 25% higher in value ($118.6 million).
- China: As noted above, August beef exports to China increased from minimal year-ago levels, reaching 2,781 mt valued at $25.6 million. The increase reflects renewed eligibility for some U.S. plants, after China agreed in May to renew U.S. establishment registrations that Chinese regulators had allowed to expire. But many U.S. plants remain suspended, and most others remain reluctant to ship to China until clarity is achieved regarding residue testing.
Beef export value equated to $436.11 per head of fed slaughter in August, up 17% from a year ago. The January-August average was $430.97 per head, up 8%.
Exports accounted for 12.7% of total August beef production, up from 12.1% a year ago. The January-August ratio was 12.9% of total production, down from 13.1% during the same period last year.
