US beef exports remain significantly surpressed

US beef exports remained under pressure in April, as the near-total absence of China continued to weigh heavily on overall volumes. Export volumes were down considerably year on year, but higher export values per head significantly helped offset the losses for the US beef sector. Demand also proved resilient in several key markets, with stronger results for Taiwan, the Caribbean, ASEAN and beef variety meat partly compensating for the decline.US beef exports totalled 89,783 tonnes in April, down 11% year on year, according to data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. Export value fell 5% to $780.6 million. April results continued to reflect the impact of limited access to China, although prospects for a return to the market have improved following the renewal of US beef plant registrations.For January to April, US beef and beef variety meat exports reached 365,138 tonnes, 11% below last year’s pace. Export value declined 5% to $3.13 billion. Excluding China, however, exports were slightly above last year in volume and 7% higher in value, underlining the resilience of demand despite tight US supplies and elevated prices.Per-head value remains highDespite lower export volumes, April beef exports continued to perform well on a per-head basis. Export value equated to $415.88 per head of fed slaughter, up 5% from a year earlier. For January to April, the average was $427.59 per head, 3% higher than last year.Exports accounted for 12.5% of total April beef production and 9.6% of muscle cut production. Both shares were below last year’s levels, when exports accounted for 13.1% of total production and 11.1% of muscle cuts. For the first four months, exports represented 13% of total production and 9.8% of muscle cuts, each down by about half a percentage point from the same period in 2025.China remains the biggest problemThe lack of access to China remains central to the outlook. Exports to China were still virtually non-existent, significantly reducing total US beef exports.However, Taiwan remained a bright spot. April shipments to Taiwan totalled 4,892 tonnes, up 9% year on year, while value increased 3% to $55.8 million. For January to April, exports to Taiwan climbed 19% to 19,801 tonnes, while value rose 11% to $224.2 million. The US continues to dominate Taiwan’s chilled beef import market, holding around two-thirds of the segment.Demand in Southeast Asia also improved. April beef exports to the ASEAN region reached 3,555 tonnes, up 48% from a year earlier, while value rose 50% to almost $30 million. Growth was supported by a rebound in shipments to Indonesia from last year’s low levels, as well as stronger demand in Vietnam. For the first four months, exports to ASEAN increased 31% to 11,049 tonnes, while value climbed 38% to $94.4 million.Major Asian markets remain weakerKorea remained the leading value destination for US beef, but April exports were lower than last year. Shipments totalled 20,206 tonnes, down 14% year on year, while value declined 7% to $200.2 million. Even so, export value exceeded $200 million for the second consecutive month. For January to April, exports to Korea were 6% lower in volume at 76,448 tonnes, while value fell 4% to $753.8 million.Exports to Japan also declined. April shipments fell 22% year on year to 17,563 tonnes, while value dropped 15% to $140.1 million. For January to April, exports to Japan totalled 74,959 tonnes, down 9%, with value falling 7% to $577 million. Export data show a sharp shift towards beef variety meat and away from muscle cuts, although Japanese import data suggest the change may be less pronounced. More clarity is expected as additional details become available.Mexico steady, variety meat strongExports to Mexico were slightly lower in April, with volume down 3% year on year to 17,062 tonnes and value down 5% to $102.2 million. For January to April, however, shipments to Mexico were steady at 72,860 tonnes, while value increased 6% to $464.9 million.Mexico remained especially important for beef variety meat. Through April, beef variety meat exports to Mexico reached 44,425 tonnes, up 13% from a year earlier, while value increased 22% to $130 million. This helped support the broader variety meat category, which was again a clear bright spot in April.Central America showed mixed results in April. Export volume fell 7% year on year to 1,967 tonnes, but value still increased 2% to $18.6 million. Through April, exports to the region were down slightly in volume at 8,067 tonnes, but value rose 15% to $81.3 million, supported by growth in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama.The Caribbean also posted strong growth, supported by larger shipments to most islands, including the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and the Netherlands Antilles. April exports to the region increased 17% year on year to 3,275 tonnes, while value jumped 35% to $38.6 million. For January to April, exports rose 8% to 12,271 tonnes and value increased 29% to $141.4 million.Peru also continued to expand rapidly. April exports reached 841 tonnes, up 60% from a year earlier, while value surged 76% to just under $7 million. For the first four months, exports to Peru nearly doubled, rising 97% in volume to 2,761 tonnes and 94% in value to $19.5 million. Around 60% of US beef exports to Peru consist of variety meat.Egypt, where US beef exports consist almost entirely of livers and other variety meat, recorded stronger value growth. April exports increased 6% year on year to 2,695 tonnes, while value climbed 26% to $6.7 million. For January to April, shipments were down 10% in volume at 11,888 tonnes, but value increased 12% to $28.1 million.