Beef exports below record pace of 2022 - USMEF
Beef exports totalled 115,107 mt in JuneWell below the record pace established in 2022, June beef exports topped $900 million in value, pushing first-half export value to nearly $5 billion,according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Beef exports totalled 115,107 mt in June, down 12% from a year ago and slightly below the May volume. Export value was $909.5 million, down 13% year-over-year but the highest since October and 4% above the value posted in May. First-half beef exports were 10% below last year’s record pace at 669,176 mt. Export value was just under $5 billion – down 19% from a year ago but still 8% above the first half of 2021.
“It was a challenging first half for beef exports, especially when compared to the blistering pace established a year ago,” said Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO. “But we are encouraged to see that exports are still accounting for a consistently high percentage of total beef production, and variety meat exports have held up very well considering the decline in US slaughter. These metrics continue to illustrate the important contribution of exports in maximizing beef carcass value.”