June Beef Export Value Above Year-Ago; Now-Resolved Offal Restrictions Slowed Pork Exports

In June, the value of U.S. beef exports increased from a year ago despite lower volumes, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). June pork exports were below last year, largely due to a sharp decline in pork variety meat exports attributable to pseudorabies-related restrictions that have since been lifted by Mexico and Colombia.

June beef exports totaled 88,586 metric tons (mt), down 6% from a year ago. However, export value was up 3% to $790.1 million, bolstered by year-over-year increases in Japan, Taiwan, the ASEAN region, Central America, South Korea, Hong Kong, the Caribbean and Africa. Export value was nearly steady to the Middle East but declined to Mexico, Canada and China.

For the first half of 2026, beef export volume was 9% lower than a year ago at 545,649 mt, while value fell 4% to $4.74 billion. Much of this decline was due to the continued absence from China, where beef exports were strong in the first quarter of 2025 before China allowed U.S. facility registrations to expire. Although these registrations were renewed during President Trump’s visit to China in May, exports to China remain minimal due to plant suspensions and uncertainty over China’s residue testing – trade barriers that U.S. officials are working to resolve. When China is removed from the January-June results, beef export volume declined just 1% from the first half of last year while export value increased 6%.

“While we never want to see exports down year-over-year, global demand for U.S. beef continues to be very resilient,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “USMEF greatly appreciates the Trump administration’s persistent efforts to resolve the outstanding issues facing U.S. beef exports to China. The economic situation throughout Asia remains challenging, with lost purchasing power in U.S. dollar terms, yet customers continue to purchase a wide range of U.S. beef cuts, at record prices. This gives us an optimistic outlook for the second half.”

Pork exports totaled 224,822 mt in June, down 6% from a year ago, with value falling 9% to $624.5 million. While pork muscle cuts were modestly lower, most of the decline was due to a 21% drop in pork variety meat exports. As USMEF previously reported, Mexico and Colombia suspended imports of U.S. pork offal at the beginning of May, and this situation was not resolved until early July for Colombia and mid-July for Mexico. Fortunately, these countries have now removed pseudorabies-related restrictions on pork variety meat, though exporters still face prolonged clearance times in China due to heightened inspections.

June pork exports to Mexico were still relatively strong, though down significantly from the large totals posted a year ago. Exports increased year-over-year in June to Japan, Colombia, Central America and the Dominican Republic, but declined to China, Korea, Oceania and the ASEAN region.

For the first half of 2026, pork exports totaled 1.51 million mt, up 4% from a year ago, while value increased 3% to $4.22 billion. Export volume to Mexico was slightly lower, but value remained steady with last year’s record pace. Exports are also on a record pace to Central America and the Dominican Republic and increased substantially to Japan.

“Although the June data certainly show the impact of Mexico’s restrictions on U.S. pork variety meats, the good news is that this issue was resolved the right way – with full access restored and no limits on pipeline product,” Halstrom explained. “USMEF greatly appreciates the engagement by USDA, which resulted in the full lifting of the restrictions imposed by Mexico and Colombia. Meanwhile, thanks to an outstanding performance in Japan and the CAFTA-DR region, pork exports are not far off the record pace we saw in 2024.”

While June beef exports to Japan were also modestly lower in volume (19,415 mt, down 3%) than year ago, shipments still achieved a 6% increase in value to $156.4 million. For January through June, exports to Japan trailed last year’s pace by 8% in volume (114,476 mt) and 2% in value at just under $900 million. While soaring tourism has provided a boost for Japan’s foodservice sector, the persistently weak yen and rising energy costs have dampened consumer spending. The U.S. and Japanese governments recently intervened to bolster the yen, which had reached a 40-year low versus the U.S. dollar. Japan also maintains the highest beef import duty of any of the major markets, at 20.8%, even with the U.S.-Japan trade agreement signed in 2020.

Beef exports to leading value market Korea also achieved a slight increase in value ($182.1 million, up 1%) in June despite falling 7% in volume (17,878 mt). U.S. beef has faced an unusual situation in Korea, where imports of Australian beef normally trigger Korea’s higher safeguard tariff (24% versus 5%) late in the year. However, the 2026 safeguard threshold was reached July 21. While this will expand opportunities for U.S. beef in the second half of the year, it led importers to stockpile frozen Australian beef in the second quarter and temporarily had a negative impact on demand for U.S. beef. First-half U.S. exports to Korea were 10% below last year at 114,143 mt, while value fell 5% to $1.14 billion.

Other first-half results for U.S. beef exports include:

• June beef exports to the Dominican Republic reached 1,006 mt, up 49% from a year ago and the fourth month this year that shipments exceeded 1,000 mt. Export value increased 41% to $13 million. These results capped an impressive first half for U.S. beef in the DR, with exports climbing 19% in volume (6,588 mt) and 35% in value ($92.8 million) compared to last year’s record pace. For the Caribbean region, first-half exports increased 8% to 17,480 mt, while value was up 24% to just under $200 million.

• Fueled by strong growth in leading market Guatemala, June beef exports to Central America soared 30% from a year ago to 1,198 mt, while value increased 32% to $18.5 million. First-half exports to the region increased modestly in volume (11,886 mt, up 2%) but value climbed an impressive 17% to $120.6 million.

• While U.S. beef still faces significant obstacles in Indonesia, improvements in market access have resulted in a rebound in 2026. June exports to Indonesia reached 967 mt valued at $11.1 million – up from zero exports a year ago. For January through June, exports were up dramatically from the minimal totals posted in the first half of 2025, with shipments reaching 4,927 mt valued at $40.3 million. With beef exports also increasing substantially to Vietnam, first-half shipments to the ASEAN region increased 31% from a year ago to 17,640 mt, valued at $158.4 million, up 46%.

• June beef exports to Mexico trended lower than a year ago in both volume (16,268 mt, down 5%) and value ($102.5 mt, down 4%). But first-half results were fairly steady, with exports falling 1% to 105,472 mt, but increasing 2% in value to $662.6 million.

• Beef export value equated to $414.97 per head of fed slaughter in June, up 6% from a year ago. The first-half average was $431.84 per head, up 5%. Exports accounted for 12.3% of total June beef production and 9.7% for muscle cuts, down from 13.1% and 10.9%, respectively, a year ago. The first half ratios were 13% of total production and 9.9% for muscle cuts, down from 13.5% and 11.3%, respectively.

Led by growth in Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica, pork exports to Central America were just under 16,000 mt in June, up 17% from a year ago, while value climbed 22% to $53 million. Exports to the region are on a record pace through June, increasing 9% from a year ago in volume (97,737 mt) and 15% in value ($323.7 million). Central America surpassed Canada as the fifth-largest volume destination for U.S. pork in the first half, despite exports to Canada also trending higher than a year ago. The region ranks sixth in export value.

June pork exports to the Dominican Republic reached 7,355 mt in June, up 4% from a year ago, while value increased 5% to $21.7 million. These results capped an outstanding first half in which shipments to the DR surpassed the 2023 record pace, soaring 30% in volume (58,518 mt) and 29% in value ($170.3 million).

Other first-half results for U.S. pork exports include:

• Pork exports to Colombia were the second largest on record in May at more than 14,000 mt, and shipments were strong again in June. Exports soared 41% from a year ago in both volume (11,929 mt) and value ($34.8 million) in June, despite restrictions (see above) that limited demand for pork offal and further processed products (although about 95% of exports to Colombia are pork muscle cuts and only 5% are typically variety meats). After a slow start to the year, first-half exports to Colombia pulled 1% ahead of last year’s pace in both volume (66,788 mt) and value ($193 million). Exports are on pace to be record-large in 2026.

• While well below the large year-ago totals, June pork exports to Mexico still reached 91,743 mt (down 11%), valued at $212.1 million (down 15%). The decrease in pork variety meat exports to Mexico in May and June neared $30 million. Access for U.S. pork offal wasn’t fully restored until mid-July, but July should be the last month in which exports were pinched by pseudorabies-related restrictions. For January through June, exports to Mexico were 2% below the record pace of last year at 576,465 mt, but export value was steady at $1.3 billion. Pork muscle cut exports to Mexico totaled 507,496 mt in the first half, up 2%, although volume dropped below year-ago in both May and June. Export value for muscle cuts totaled $1.17 billion, also up 2%.   

• June pork exports to China, where U.S. pork is subject to retaliatory duties and domestic production is at a record-high level, totaled 30,900 mt, down 7% from a year ago. Export value was down 16% to $72.7 million. First-half exports to China increased 15% from a year ago to 208,333 mt, while value was steady at $434.5 million. But note that last year, April and May shipments to China were impacted by an escalation of tariffs. Pork variety meat makes up more than 70% of total U.S. pork shipments to China.

• As noted above, pork exports to Canada have trended higher in 2026. Through June, shipments totaled 91,300 mt, up 7% from a year ago, with value up 5% to $365 million. Canada is a key destination for value-added processed products, raw material for further processing and fresh pork for retail.

• Although exports to Taiwan trended lower in June, demand for U.S. pork showed signs of a rebound in the first half. January-June exports totaled 5,983 mt, up 26% from a year ago, while value increased 19% to $13.5 million. U.S. pork still captured just 6% of Taiwan’s imports. Even with imports from Spain restricted, the European Union held 52% share in Taiwan, followed by Canada with 30% and Paraguay with 10%.

• Pork export value equated to $59.49 per head slaughtered in June, down 13% from the high year-ago average. First-half export value equated to $66.63 per head, up 2% from a year ago. Exports accounted for 27.5% of total pork production and 24.5% of muscle cuts, down substantially from the respective year-ago ratios of 31.3% and 26.7%. First-half ratios remained higher than a year ago at 30.3% of total production (up from 29.6%) and 26.7% of muscle cuts (up from 26.1%).

Mexico, Central America lead June rebound in lamb exports

Exports of U.S. lamb muscle cuts totaled 235 mt in June, up 5% from a year ago, while value nearly doubled to $1.8 million (up 95%). Exports to Mexico have trended lower in 2026 but bounced back strongly in June to reach 117 mt, up 23% and the largest since May 2025. June export value to Mexico was $956,000, up 169% and the highest monthly value since 2012. June shipments were also higher to Costa Rica and Honduras and were fairly steady to the Caribbean.

In the first half of the year, lamb muscle cut exports were 6% below last year in volume (1,492 mt) but increased 6% in value to $8.8 million. Value growth was led mainly by the Bahamas and Leeward-Windward Islands, but value also increased to Central America, Taiwan and Hong Kong. 

Complete January-June export results for U.S. pork, beef and lamb are available from USMEF’s statistics web page. 

For questions, please contact Joe Schuele or call 303-547-0030.

NOTES:

• Export statistics refer to both muscle cuts and variety meat, unless otherwise noted.

• One metric ton (mt) = 2,204.622 pounds.

• U.S. pork and beef currently face retaliatory duties in China. In February 2020, China announced a duty exclusion process that allows importers to apply for relief from duties imposed in response to U.S. Section 301 duties. When an application is successful, the rate for U.S. beef can decline to the MFN rate of 12% and the rate for U.S. pork can decline to 37% (the MFN rate plus the 25% Section 232 retaliatory duty, which remains in place). But China imposed an additional 10% retaliatory duty on U.S. pork and beef on March 10, 2025, and additional retaliatory duties were announced in April 2025. China’s new retaliatory duties were first announced at 34% but were later increased to 84% and further increased to 125%. The additional tariffs pushed China’s effective duty rate on U.S. pork and pork variety meat to 172% and the rate for beef and beef variety meat increased to 147%. These rates were temporarily lowered to 57% for pork and 32% for beef on May 14, 2025, when the U.S. and China agreed to a temporary de-escalation to allow for further negotiations. The rates were further lowered to 47% for pork and 22% for beef on Nov. 10, 2025.

• Beginning March 4, 2025, U.S. sausages entering Canada were subject to a 25% retaliatory duty. This duty was removed effective Sept. 1, 2025.