US beef exports continue to suffer from weak Asian demand

US beef exports are down once again. Weak performance in Asia remains a major reason for lower export volumes. Closer to home, results were mixed. US beef exports once again declined in February, as limited access to China continued to weigh on overall performance. Exports totalled 85,066 metric tonnes, mt, down 13% year on year, while value fell 10% to $722.7 million. Shipments were also lower to key markets including Korea, Japan and Canada. Ongoing challenges in key Asian markets The weak performance was once again driven by poor sales in Asia. Exports to China remain virtually non-existent, leaving a considerable gap in overall exports. Despite strong demand for variety meats, exports to Japan were down 3% year on year in both volume and value for the first two months of 2026. Exports to Korea also weakened in February, falling 14% in volume to 16,032 mt and 16% in value to $151.1 million. Year to date, shipments to Korea were down 5% in both volume and value. In the Middle East, results were mixed. January to February exports declined 8% in volume but increased 13% in value. The recent removal of technical barriers by Saudi Arabia is expected to support future growth, with exports projected to exceed $100 million annually. Mixed performance across key markets Exports to Mexico edged higher in February, rising 2% in volume to 17,590 mt, while value increased 11% to $124.3 million. For the first two months of the year, export value to Mexico rose 12% to $248.8 million, despite a 2% decline in volume. Shipments to Taiwan also increased, reaching 4,200 mt in February, up 5% year on year, although value fell 9% to $44.4 million. Year to date, exports to Taiwan surged 38% in volume and 23% in value. A new trade agreement is expected to further support exports once implemented. In the Caribbean, exports rose 8% in February to 2,758 mt, while value jumped 29% to $33.8 million, driven by strong demand in the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and the Netherlands Antilles. South America also recorded solid growth, with February exports increasing 17% in volume to 1,758 mt and 62% in value to $15.2 million. Most shipments were destined for Colombia, Peru and Chile. Exports to Central America remained stable in volume at 1,928 mt but increased 25% in value to $21.2 million, supported by strong demand in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. Meanwhile, exports to South Africa rebounded sharply from low levels last year, with January to February shipments rising nearly 1,400% to 810 mt, largely consisting of variety meats such as kidneys and livers. Variety meat exports up Despite weaker beef sales, variety meat exports continued to deliver strong growth, providing an important boost to overall carcass value. February shipments reached 24,081 mt, up 12% year on year, while value surged 40% to $106 million. This follows record performances in recent months, with variety meat export value reaching $122 million in December and $126 million in January. For January to February, exports increased 9% in volume, 51,592 mt, while value climbed 43% to $232 million. Growth was driven largely by strong demand for tongues and skirts in Japan, alongside increased shipments to Korea, South Africa, Peru, Colombia and Vietnam. Exports to Mexico remained stable in volume but rose 13% in value. Beef export value averaged $422.87 per head of fed slaughter in February, down 2% year on year but the highest level in 11 months. The January to February average rose 5% to $418.83.