US beef export value reaches highest in nine months - USMEF
Exports still below last March's numbers, though
8 May 2024
1 minute read
By: US beef exports were below last March’s large volume but export value was the highest since June 2023, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
March beef exports totalled 108,218 mt, down 10% from the large volume posted a year ago but still the highest of 2024. Export value was $889.9 million, down slightly from a year ago (-0.3%) but the highest in nine months. January-March exports totaled 311,865 mt, down 4% from the first quarter of 2023, but export value increased 6% to $2.48 billion.
“Beef demand in the Caribbean was outstanding in March, and we continued to see a strong rebound in the Middle East as well as some positive signs in Korea and Japan, where the foodservice recovery is making progress,” said USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom. “It’s a challenging situation in terms of supply availability, but the value U.S. beef commands internationally is very encouraging – as evidenced by March export value climbing to more than $450 per head."
