US beef exports decline over loss of Chinese access

The United States exported considerably less beef in 2025 than in 2024. This is evident from data from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). However, U.S. beef exports showed signs of recovery in December, reaching their highest level in eight months. However, the continued lack of access to the Chinese market remained a major drag on overall export performance.For the full 2025 calendar year, U.S. beef exports totaled 1.14 million metric tonnes, down 12% from 2024. Export value fell 11% to $9.33 billion. December beef exports totaled 98,595 metric tonnes, down 10.5% year-over-year but the largest monthly volume since April, when U.S. exporters effectively lost access to China. Export value reached $809.2 million, a decline of 10% compared with the previous year, but also the strongest performance since April.Export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $393.13 in December, down 11% year-over-year. For the full year, the average stood at $391.94, a 6% decline. These weaker ratios and lower per-head export values largely reflect the loss of the Chinese market, which had previously been one of the fastest-growing destinations for U.S. beef.China sets the trendChina effectively halted most imports of U.S. beef in March after failing to renew registrations for U.S. meat processing and cold storage facilities and suspending numerous plants for technical reasons. As a result, shipments to China fell sharply to 59,403 metric tonnes, a 48% decline, while export value dropped 69% to $497.6 million.Still, the U.S. managed to diversify its foreign beef trade. Shipments increased year-over-year to Taiwan, the Middle East, ASEAN, the Caribbean, South America, and Hong Kong, while exports to Japan remained stable. Deliveries to South Korea, Mexico, and Canada declined only modestly. However, exports to China were minimal, offsetting gains in other markets. According to USMEF, December beef exports actually rose 4% in volume and 6% in value compared with a year earlier when China is excluded. Without China, U.S. beef exports in 2025 declined only 3% in volume and 0.4% in value, illustrating that most other global markets remained relatively stable.Japan remains largest volume marketJapan maintained its position as the largest volume market for U.S. beef exports. December shipments totaled 18,646 metric tons, valued at $135.5 million, both steady compared with the previous year. A key growth area was beef variety meats, primarily tongues and skirts. December exports of these products exceeded 5,000 metric tons, a 47% increase year-over-year, while export value climbed 49% to $45.3 million. For the full year, combined exports of beef and variety meats to Japan reached 237,975 metric tons, down 2% from 2024, with export value declining 6% to $1.76 billion.South Korea continued to be the largest market in terms of export value for U.S. beef. Although December shipments were slightly lower year-over-year, total exports in 2025 remained steady at 232,175 metric tons. Export value reached $2.23 billion, slightly higher than the previous year and the third-highest level on record. It also marked the fifth consecutive year that U.S. beef exports to Korea exceeded $2 billion. Market conditions are expected to improve further, as U.S. beef reached zero-duty tariff status in 2026 under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Before the agreement entered into force in 2012, U.S. beef exports to Korea faced tariffs of 40%.Exports to Taiwan strengthened toward the end of the year. December shipments reached 6,569 metric tons, up 7% year-over-year, while export value totaled $75.3 million, the highest monthly value of 2025. Despite the late rebound, full-year exports to Taiwan declined 6% in both volume (58,714 metric tons) and value ($667.6 million).Mixed results close to homeCloser to home, results were mixed. In Central America, export volumes declined 5% to 20,724 metric tons, but export value surged 26% to a record $201.3 million. Growth was led by Guatemala, where exports exceeded $105 million, an increase of nearly $27 million from the previous record. Exports to the Caribbean also strengthened. December shipments increased 9% to 2,948 metric tons, while value rose 16% to $30.9 million. For the full year, export value reached $314.1 million, up 11%, despite a slight decline in volume. In South America, shipments increased 3% to 19,861 metric tons, while export value surged 34% to $152.2 million. Chile, Colombia, and Peru were key growth markets, with particularly strong demand in Colombia, where export value jumped 77%. However, exports to Mexico declined 10% in volume to 209,094 metric tons, although export value fell only 3% to $1.3 billion, supported by strong demand for variety meats.Shipments to the Middle East rebounded late in the year. December exports reached 4,816 metric tons, up 48% year-over-year, while export value climbed 52% to $21.8 million. For the full year, export value rose 4% to $239.7 million, despite a slight decline in volume. Meanwhile, exports to the ASEAN region declined sharply in 2025, falling 15% in volume and 20% in value. However, a newly announced trade agreement with Indonesia could significantly improve market access for U.S. beef going forward.Variety meats remain a bright spotBeef variety meats were a major driver of export growth in December. Shipments increased 20% year-over-year to 28,394 metric tons, the highest level since May 2022. Export value reached a record $122.1 million, up 47% from the previous year. Strong growth was recorded in markets including Japan, Mexico, Egypt, Taiwan, Chile, Peru, and Jamaica. For the full year, variety meat exports totaled 270,606 metric tonnes, down 6%, but export value declined only 1% to $1.08 billion.