Impasse with China Weighs Heavily on May Exports of U.S. Red Meat
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Exports of U.S. pork and beef trended lower in May, due primarily to steep declines in shipments to China, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
As USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom details, in April and the first half of May, China’s total tariff rate on U.S. pork peaked at 172%, while the rate for U.S. beef was 147%. Even following a May 14 joint announcement temporarily easing tariffs for 90 days, China’s rates still stand at 57% for U.S. pork and 32% for U.S. beef. In addition, most U.S. beef production is ineligible due to China’s failure – since February – to renew expiring beef plant and cold storage facility registrations.
May pork exports totaled 224,162 metric tons (mt), down 11% from a year ago, while value fell 10% to $646.5 million. Although these were the lowest monthly totals since September 2023, shipments increased year-over-year to Mexico, Central America and Colombia, and were record-large to Cuba. Pork exports to all of these markets are on a record pace in 2025.
Through the first five months of the year, pork exports were down 6% in volume (1.22 million mt) and 5% in value ($3.43 billion) compared to the record pace of 2024.
Beef exports totaled 97,266 mt in May, down 12% and the lowest in nearly five years. Export value was $798.7 million, down 11.5% and the lowest in 18 months. But exports to leading market South Korea were outstanding, posting the largest monthly volume in more than two years and the highest value in nearly three years. May beef exports also trended higher year-over-year to Central and South America, the Dominican Republic, the United Arab Emirates and Africa.
January-May beef exports were down 5% from last year’s pace at 508,293 mt, while value declined 3% to $4.15 billion.
A detailed summary of the May export results for U.S. pork, beef and lamb is available from the USMEF website.