US beef exports remain weak, but signs of recovery emerge

US beef exports moved lower again in March, with limited access to China continuing to weigh heavily on overall performance. However, excluding China, exports improved, and beef variety meat delivered a record month.US beef exports totalled 97,731 tonnes in March, down 11% year on year, while value fell 8% to $844.7 million. Shipments increased to Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Indonesia, and were steady to Korea and Taiwan. However, minimal exports to China, combined with weaker shipments to Japan and the Middle East, pulled total volumes lower.For the first quarter, beef and beef variety meat exports totalled 275,355 tonnes, down 11% from a year earlier. Export value declined 7% to $2.35 billion. Excluding China, first-quarter exports were 3% higher in volume and 9% higher in value, showing that demand in other markets remains relatively firm despite tight US beef supplies.Importance of exports is decreasing As a result, exports have become a less significant share of US beef sales. Exports accounted for 13.6% of total March beef production and 10.2% of muscle cut production, down from 14.8% and 12.5%, respectively, a year earlier. For the first quarter, exports accounted for 13.1% of total production and 9.9% for muscle cuts.Despite lower overall volumes, beef exports continued to command strong prices. March export value equated to $456.56 per head of fed slaughter, slightly below last year but the highest in 12 months. The first-quarter average was $431.66, up 2% from the same period in 2025.Mixed Asian results The ongoing absence of China remained the key factor behind the decline in US beef exports. China has now been largely absent for more than a year, leaving a major gap in overall export demand. Excluding China, March beef exports were 4% higher than last year in volume and 8% higher in value. Japan remained the largest volume market for US beef, but first-quarter exports declined. Larger shipments of beef variety meat helped support the market, but this was offset by weaker muscle cut exports. Total January to March shipments to Japan fell 4% to 57,396 tonnes, while value declined 3% to $436.8 million.Meanwhile, exports to Korea, the leading value market for US beef, were steady in March at 20,729 tonnes. Export value increased 3% to $209.9 million. For January to March, shipments to Korea were down 3% in both volume and value, totalling 56,242 tonnes and $553.6 million. Taiwan also continued to perform well. March exports matched last year’s volume at 5,078 tonnes, while value increased slightly to $61 million. This capped the strongest first quarter since 2022, with shipments to Taiwan rising 22% to 14,909 tonnes and value increasing 14% to $168.4 million.Growth in the Americas Closer to home, several markets posted stronger results. The Caribbean continued to show strong value growth. March exports to the region were up slightly to 3,276 tonnes, the second highest monthly volume on record, while value jumped 22% to a record $36.9 million. First-quarter exports to the Caribbean increased 5% to 8,996 tonnes, while value rose 27% to $102.7 million. Growth was led by the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and the Netherlands Antilles.Central America also delivered higher values despite only modest volume growth. First-quarter shipments to the region increased 1% to 6,100 tonnes, while value climbed 19% to $62.6 million. Guatemala was a standout market, with exports rising 18% to 2,944 tonnes and value increasing 28% to $30.6 million.South America recorded strong growth in March, supported by larger shipments to Peru and Colombia. Exports increased 30% year on year to 2,070 tonnes, while value surged 77% to $20 million, the highest since 2021. For the first quarter, shipments to South America rose 21% to 5,382 tonnes, while value increased 55% to $47.6 million.Exports to the Middle East were weaker in March, partly reflecting transport disruptions linked to conflict with Iran. Shipments to Egypt declined 9% year on year but increased in value, while exports to the United Arab Emirates fell to just 127 tonnes, the lowest level in eight months. March exports were also lower to Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Lebanon. For January to March, beef exports to the Middle East totalled 12,027 tonnes, down 14% from a year earlier, while value declined 12% to $57.1 million.Beef variety meat reaches new recordBeef variety meat was the strongest feature of the March export results. Shipments totalled 29,062 tonnes, up 24% year on year and the largest volume since 2017. Export value jumped 50% to $135.6 million, setting a new monthly record.This was the third record value performance in four months. Beef variety meat export value reached $122.1 million in December 2025, $126 million in January 2026 and $135.6 million in March. For the first quarter, variety meat exports increased 14% to 80,654 tonnes, while value surged 45% to $367.6 million. Growth was driven by stronger demand from Mexico, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, South Africa, Peru, Colombia and the Philippines.