US beef export value rises in May despite volume decline - USMEF
China obstacles persist as Taiwan and Korea outlook brightens
9 July 2026
1 minute read
By: US beef exports were below last year’s volume in May but edged higher in value, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Exports totalled 91,925 mt, down 5% from a year ago. But value increased 2% to $818.1 million, bolstered by value increases in Taiwan, Japan, the ASEAN region, Central and South America and Egypt. Export value per head of fed slaughter soared to $468 in May, the highest in nearly four years. Despite China’s mid-May renewal of expired US beef plant registrations, May exports to China remained minimal as technical obstacles are yet to be resolved.
For January through May, beef exports were 10% below last year’s pace at 457,063 mt, while value fell 5% to $3.95 billion. But when excluding China from these results, January-May beef exports were down less than 1% in volume and were 6% higher in value.
“Despite significant headwinds, we are seeing some encouraging trends on the beef side,” USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom said. “Many facilities remain suspended and unable to export to China, while exporters overall remain reluctant to ship until technical obstacles are resolved and China agrees to meet its Phase One Agreement commitments. But Taiwan has been a major bright spot this year and while exports to South Korea have trended lower, we expect an uptick in Korea’s demand when a higher tariff rate on Australian beef is triggered later this month.”
By mid-July, Korea’s imports of Australian beef are expected to exceed the safeguard threshold established in the Korea-Australia FTA. Through the end of the year, Korea’s tariff rate on Australian beef will increase from 5.3% to 24%. US beef enters Korea at zero duty under the Korea-US FTA. Australia triggered its beef safeguard for China on June 18, and has since faced a 55% tariff for exports entering that market.
