May beef exports were below last year’s volume but edged higher in value, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
May beef exports totaled 91,925 mt, down 5% from a year ago. But value increased 2% to $818.1 million, bolstered by value increases in Taiwan, Japan, the ASEAN region, Central and South America and Egypt. Export value per head of fed slaughter soared to $468 in May, the highest in nearly four years. Despite China’s mid-May renewal of expired U.S. beef plant registrations, May exports to China remained minimal as technical obstacles are yet to be resolved.
For January through May, beef exports were 10% below last year’s pace at 457,063 mt, while value fell 5% to $3.95 billion. But when excluding China from these results, January-May beef exports were down less than 1% in volume and were 6% higher in value.
“Despite significant headwinds, we are seeing some encouraging trends on the beef side,” USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said. “Many facilities remain suspended and unable to export to China, while exporters overall remain reluctant to ship until technical obstacles are resolved and China agrees to meet its Phase One Agreement commitments. But Taiwan has been a major bright spot this year and while exports to South Korea have trended lower, we expect an uptick in Korea’s demand when a higher tariff rate on Australian beef is triggered later this month.”
By mid-July, Korea’s imports of Australian beef are expected to exceed the safeguard threshold established in the Korea-Australia FTA. Through the end of the year, Korea’s tariff rate on Australian beef will increase from 5.3% to 24%. U.S. beef enters Korea at zero duty under the Korea-U.S. FTA. Australia triggered its beef safeguard for China on June 18, and has since faced a 55% tariff for exports entering that market.
May beef export highlights led by value growth in Taiwan, Japan, Latin America
Beef exports to Taiwan continued to perform well in May, climbing 9% from a year ago to 5,358 mt, while value increased 16% to $63.7 million. January-May exports to Taiwan were 16% above last year’s pace at 25,159 mt, while value increased 12% to $287.9 million. Taiwan is a high-value destination for a diverse range of U.S. beef products, including cuts from the round such as outside round flats.
While May beef exports to Japan were lower than a year ago in volume (20,102 mt, down 8%), export value still increased 7% to $166.2 million. For January through May, exports to Japan were 9% below last year’s pace at 95,061 mt, while value was down 4% to $743.2 million. With the recent increase in U.S. production achieving the USDA Prime grade, USMEF has heightened efforts to promote Prime cuts that are underutilized in the U.S. market but can command a premium in Japan’s retail and foodservice sectors, such as Prime round cuts, chuck eye rolls and coulottes.
With Australian beef rapidly approaching a higher safeguard tariff in South Korea (see above), the situation has had a mixed impact on U.S. beef’s presence in the Korean market. On one hand, the higher tariff rate will certainly create additional opportunities for U.S. beef – especially chilled cuts – in the second half of the year, and USMEF has been positioning U.S. beef, including USDA Prime cuts, to take Australian shelf space. But in anticipation of the higher tariff, Korean importers have stockpiled frozen Australian beef, which has weighed on U.S. export results in the first half. In May, beef exports to Korea totaled 19,817 mt, down 21% from a year ago, while value fell 12% to $206 million. For January through May, exports to Korea were 10% below last year in volume (96,265 mt) and 6% lower in value ($959.8 million).
Other January-May results for U.S. beef exports include:
- Led by the largest exports to Chile since 2022 at nearly 900 mt (up 54% year-over-year, valued at $7.5 million, up 55%), May beef exports to South America increased 13% from a year ago to 1,634 mt, while value soared 41% to $14.9 million. January-May results followed a similar trend, increasing 13% in volume (8,790 mt) and 38% in value ($77.7 million).
- While May beef exports to Central America were below last year in volume (1,901 mt, down 7%), value still climbed 12% to $20.8 million. For January through May, exports to the region increased 14% in value to $102.1 million, despite a slight decline in volume (9,968 mt, down 2%).
- May beef exports to the ASEAN increased significantly year-over-year, mainly due to the re-emergence of Indonesia following elimination of some onerous non-tariff barriers. Shipments to the region increased 38% from a year ago to 3,193 mt, valued at $31.4 million (up 61%). With demand also strengthening in Vietnam, January-May exports to the ASEAN climbed 33% above last year in volume (14,242 mt) and were 43% higher in value ($125.8 million). Despite recent improvements, Indonesia continues to use import licensing to heavily restrict imports through its de facto quota system. If the U.S.-Indonesia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade is implemented, opportunities in the market will be tremendous.
- The conflict in Iran has negatively impacted beef exports to the Middle East – both in terms of foodservice demand and transportation challenges. But shipments to Egypt, which are mostly livers and other variety meat, have been less affected. While May exports to Egypt slipped 4% below a year ago to 2,570 mt, value increased 17% to $6.2 million. January-May shipments to Egypt increased 12% in value to $34.3 million, despite a 9% decline in volume (14,458 mt).
- Beef exports to Africa, which are also primarily variety meat, climbed 15% above last year in May to 1,396 mt, valued at $3.4 million (up 70%). Through May, exports to Africa were down 12% in volume (5,264 mt) but still increased 20% in value ($11.3 million). The increase in value was led by strong growth in Morocco and a rebound in demand from South Africa. Other major markets include Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon.
- While some progress has been made in restoring access for U.S. beef in China, many U.S. establishments remain suspended and others are deterred from exporting to China by lingering technical barriers. Shipments to China remained minimal in May, totaling just 471 mt valued at $2.7 million.
- May was another large month for beef variety meat export results, with shipments climbing 34% from a year ago in volume (27,200 mt) and 55% higher in value ($128.4 million). However, based on analysis of import data from major markets and U.S. market dynamics, USMEF anticipates downward adjustments to the 2026 beef variety meat export data, with some volume and value possibly reclassified as muscle cuts.
- Beef export value equated to $468 per head of fed slaughter in May, up 15% from a year ago and the highest since July 2022. The January-May average was $435.38 per head, up 5% from the same period in 2025. May beef exports accounted for 13.8% of total May beef production and 10.4% of muscle cuts, up from 13.3% and 11.3%, respectively, in May 2025. The January-May ratios were 13.1% of total production (down from 13.6%) and 9.9% of muscle cuts (down from 11.4%.
