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USMEF: January beef exports above year-ago

Beef

Exports of U.S. beef trended higher than a year ago in January, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Posted on Mar 10 ,00:05

January beef exports reached 102,840 metric tons (mt), up 3% year-over-year, while value increased 5% to $804.6 million. Growth was driven in part by larger exports to China and Canada, while exports to South Korea were steady in volume but higher in value. Strong value increases were also achieved in other key markets, including Taiwan, the Caribbean, Central America and the ASEAN. Exports of beef variety meat were the largest in nearly two years, led by larger shipments to Mexico, Egypt, Canada and China/Hong Kong.

"Demand for U.S. beef came on strong in the Asian markets late last year, and that momentum largely continued in January,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “The performance in Korea is especially encouraging, given the country’s political turmoil and slumping currency. It is also gratifying to see exports trending higher to China, though we are concerned about access to the market moving forward, as many U.S. beef and pork plants are awaiting word on their eligibility beyond mid-March".

"Our Western Hemisphere markets are obviously critical to this success, so the White House pausing tariffs on some goods imported from Mexico and Canada is certainly encouraging news. Duty-free access to Mexico, Canada and other free trade agreement partners has definitely underpinned global demand for U.S. red meat and delivered essential returns at every step of the supply chain. The majority of U.S. red meat exports are to countries with which we have trade agreements. Maintaining trust and access to these markets is critical to the continued success of the U.S. industry".

Demand for U.S. beef remains resilient in key markets

January beef exports to leading value market Korea were steady with last year at 18,801 mt, while value climbed 7% to $182.4 million. Although January shipments were below the levels achieved in the fourth quarter of 2024, Korea’s demand for U.S. beef has held up well despite ongoing economic uncertainty stemming from the impeachment of embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol, with the Korean won recently trading at its lowest levels versus the U.S. dollar since 2009.

Beef exports to China totaled 15,920 mt in January, up 35% from the low volume posted a year ago, while value climbed 34% to $137.3 million. Similar to Korea, China’s demand for U.S. beef rebounded significantly in the second half of 2024. However, the U.S. industry faces great uncertainly in China as the registrations for most exporting establishments are set to expire March 16. U.S. officials are working to resolve the issue but if these plants are no longer eligible after mid-March, this will largely unravel the market access gains achieved under the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement, and the billions of dollars in trade this agreement unlocked for the U.S. industry. U.S. beef will soon be subject to an additional 10% tariff in China, bringing the total to 22% effective March 10. Exports to Hong Kong (which totaled 2,838 mt in January, valued at $25.7 million) are not impacted by the plant eligibility situation and are not subject to the retaliatory tariffs.

Beef exports to the Middle East rebounded impressively in 2024 and continued to trend higher in January. Exports totaled 5,120 mt, up 5% from a year ago, while value increased 13% to $21.5 million. This was driven primarily by robust beef variety meat shipments to Egypt, which were the highest since December 2022 and climbed 10% in volume (3,994 mt) and 25% in value ($6.9 million). Although beef muscle cut exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were below last year in volume (308 mt, down 34%), value climbed 18% to $5.9 million. Shipments to the UAE had slowed sharply toward the end of 2024 due to issues related to halal certification.

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

• Beef exports to Mexico were down slightly from a year ago, declining 2% in both volume (19,724 mt) and value ($110.1 million). Beef variety meat exports were a bright spot, however, as volume reached the highest level since 2016, climbing 16% to 11,871 mt, valued at $31.3 million (up 15%). Mexico is the top export destination for U.S. exports of beef tripe, intestines, hearts and lips. In January, exports of U.S. beef tripe to Mexico accounted for $8.14 per every head of fed cattle harvested, lips were $3.84, hearts were $2.34 and intestines were $0.49.  
• January exports to Canada climbed 20% from a year ago to 8,457 mt, while value increased 2% to $65.9 million. The modest increase in value was mainly due to variety meat making up a larger share of the product mix, as variety meat exports jumped 154% to 1,300 mt, the highest since 2012.
• Exports to the Caribbean, which were record-large in 2024, continued to expand in January as shipments increased 3% to 2,757 mt, valued at $24.6 million (up 18%). Growth was driven mainly by strong demand in the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas the Netherlands Antilles and Turks and Caicos.
• Central America also took record shipments of U.S. beef last year. Although January exports to the region were down slightly in volume (1,931 mt, down 1%), export value soared 24% to $15.7 million. Exports to Costa Rica climbed 92% to 556 mt, with value more than doubling to $4.5 million (up 125%). Robust growth was also achieved in Honduras. Exports to top market Guatemala were 5% below last year’s high level but remained strong at 850 mt, and export value increased 13% to $7.35 million.
• January exports to South America dipped 7% from a year ago to 1,371 mt, but value still climbed 13% to just under $10 million. Shipments to Chile were up 41% (to 380 mt) from last year’s low volume and jumped 53% in value to $3.6 million. Although exports to Colombia remained below last year at 339 mt (down 30%), export value reached $3.2 million – up 12% from a year ago and the highest since February 2024. Exports to Colombia slowed last year due to H5N1-related restrictions, but have been gradually rebounding since full access was restored in late September.
• Beef exports to Taiwan totaled 3,140 mt, down 2% from a year ago, but value increased 7% to $38.5 million. Shipments to Taiwan gained momentum in the second half of 2024, reaching the second highest value on record at $709.2 million. Taiwan has one of the highest unit export values for U.S. beef and in January, the U.S. captured 73% of Taiwan’s imported chilled beef market.
• Japan’s demand for U.S. beef took a step back in January, declining 10% from a year ago to 19,076 mt, while value dropped 9% to $139.5 million. Variety meat exports – mainly tongues and skirts – fell 12% in volume (3,265 mt) and 24% in value ($29.6 million).
• Despite the decline to Japan, January exports of beef variety meat reached 25,838 mt – up 11% from a year ago and the highest since May 2023. Value fell 3% to $86.4 million, reflecting the fact that tongues to Japan are the highest-value item in this category. In addition to the aforementioned growth in Egypt, Mexico and Canada, variety meat shipments also increased to China/Hong Kong, Chile, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Panama.
• January beef exports equated to $371.37 per head of fed slaughter, up 3% from a year ago. Exports accounted for 12.7% of total beef production and 10.2% for muscle cuts only, each down slightly from a year ago.

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