USMEF
What is USMEF?
USMEF has the most diverse membership of any trade association in the meat and livestock industry. USMEF represents beef/veal producers and feeders, pork producers and feeders, lamb producers and feeders, packers and processors, purveyors and traders, oilseeds producers, feedgrains producers, farm organizations, and supply and service organizations.
What is the mission of USMEF?
The mission of USMEF is to “increase the value and profit opportunities for the U.S. beef, pork, and lamb industries by enhancing demand in export markets through a coordinated and collaborative partnership of all stakeholders.” Simply put, USMEF is “Putting U.S. Meat on the World’s Table.”
Where is USMEF located?
Headquartered in Denver, USMEF has offices in Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Mexico City, and Monterrey. USMEF also has special market representatives covering Central America, South America, Europe and CIS region, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean.
How does USMEF increase U.S. red meat exports?
USMEF carries out market development activities in more than 80 countries. These activities fall into several primary areas:
Marketing – Creating demand in international markets for U.S. meat through promotions, trade seminars, consumer education, advertising and public relations.
Trade Servicing – Working to bring buyer and seller together by conducting both market and product research.
Market Access – Providing the U.S. government and industry with the market intelligence necessary to secure, maintain and develop fair and reasonable access to international markets.
How is USMEF funded?
USMEF is funded from a variety of sources, including membership dues, private contributions, and beef, pork, lamb, corn, and soybean checkoff programs. In addition, as a cooperator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USMEF also receives funds through the Market Access, Emerging Market, and Foreign Market Development programs.
How do red meat exports benefit the industry?
Beef:
In 2025, U.S. beef exports totaled 1.14 million metric tons (mt), valued at $9.33 billion. Exports were down 12% from 2024 in volume and were 11% lower in value. But this was due primarily to lack of access to China for much of the year. Excluding China, 2025 exports were down 3% in volume and were just 0.4% lower in value.
U.S. beef export value equated to $391.94 per head of fed slaughter in 2025.
Exports of U.S. beef variety meat were valued at $1.08 billion in 2024
Pork:
In 2025, U.S. pork exports totaled 2.94 million mt, down 3% from the 2024 record but the third largest on record (also slightly below 2020). Export value was also down 3% from the 2024 record but was the second highest ever at $8.4 billion.
U.S. pork export value equated to $65.47 per head of each hog processed in 2025, down slightly from the 2024 record.
U.S. pork variety meat exports reached 547,271 mt in 2025, valued at $1.18 billion.
Lamb:
In 2025, lamb muscle cut exports totaled 2,765 mt, up 38% year-over-year and the largest since 2013. Export value climbed 29% to $15.2 million, the highest value since 2014.
Exports posted strong year-over-year growth to Mexico, Canada, Central America and Trinidad and Tobago.
Feedgrain and Oilseeds:
In 2025, the market value of U.S. beef and pork exports to corn was $2.18 billion with 508.4 million bushels usage
U.S. beef and pork exports accounted for 2.68 million tons of U.S. DDGS in 2025.
In 2025, the market value of U.S. pork exports to soybeans was 98.76 million bushels for $1 billion market value