August Beef Exports above Year-Ago, but Pork Trended Lower

Fueled by a near-record performance in Taiwan and a rebound in South Korea, August exports of U.S. beef increased year-over-year, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). August pork exports were lower than a year ago, primarily due to a sharp decline in shipments to Mexico compared to the large totals posted in August 2025.

Beef exports reached 86,362 metric tons (mt) in August, up 4% from a year ago, while export value climbed 13% to $785.9 million. In addition to year-over-year growth in Taiwan and Korea, August exports also trended higher to the Middle East, the ASEAN region, Colombia and Cote d’Ivoire, while volumes were steady to Mexico and Central America. Export value increased to Japan and the Caribbean in August, despite lower volumes. Beef exports to China were above last year’s minimal total, but still reflected ongoing technical trade barriers.

“USMEF expected to see stronger beef exports to Korea in the second half of the year, as reflected in the August data,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “And I cannot say enough about the outstanding demand in Taiwan, which has truly been a star performer for U.S. beef in 2026. As for China, the August increase is just a fraction of what would be possible in that market, especially since Australian beef has faced a 55% safeguard tariff since June 20. But China still needs to relist suspended facilities and the U.S. industry needs further clarity on technical requirements before beef exports to China will significantly rebound.”

For January through August, beef exports were down 7% year-over-year in volume (721,150 mt) and were just 1% lower in value ($6.32 billion). This decline is largely attributable to lower exports to China compared to the early months of 2025, before market access obstacles began to heavily impact U.S. exports. When excluding China from the January-August results, beef exports were 1% below last year in volume but 6% higher in value.   

U.S. pork exports totaled 222,243 mt in August, down 6% from a year ago, while value fell 12% to $606.3 million. Most of this decline was due to lower shipments to Mexico, where domestic pork production has rebounded and demand for hams has softened in recent months. August pork exports trended higher than a year ago to Central America, Colombia and the Caribbean – growth markets where exports are on a record pace in 2026. But these results were offset by lower shipments to Mexico, Japan, Korea, China, Oceania and the ASEAN region.

“U.S. pork has had a remarkable run in Mexico, though pork variety meat exports suffered a setback during the pseudorabies-related restrictions that heavily restricted shipments from May through July, and we have seen softer demand for pork muscle cuts in recent weeks,” Halstrom explained. “These trends really underscore the importance of market diversification and illustrate why the U.S. industry is constantly working to identify and develop additional destinations for U.S. pork. These efforts are paying tremendous dividends in markets like Colombia, Central America and the Dominican Republic, and it is critical that we continue to strive for similar success in more regions throughout the world.”

For January through August, pork exports remained 1% higher than a year ago at 1.95 million mt, while value was steady at $5.47 billion. Compared to the record pace of 2024, exports were down 2% in volume and were 4% lower in value.   

With U.S. beef largely absent from China, Taiwan is mounting a strong challenge to Canada’s position ($520.1 million) as the fourth highest value destination for U.S. beef in 2026. The United States is Taiwan’s dominant supplier of chilled beef, capturing 68% of Taiwan’s chilled import market.

Exports to Korea, the leading value destination for U.S. beef, reached 19,195 mt in August, up 14% from a year ago and above year-ago levels for the first time since January. Export value climbed 20% to $201 million, the second highest this year. As USMEF previously noted, Korea’s beef import market had been skewed to some degree this year due to importers’ stockpiling of frozen Australian beef in anticipation of imports triggering Korea’s higher safeguard tariff rate (24% versus the normal 5%). Korea’s imports from Australia surpassed the safeguard threshold in late July, expanding opportunities for U.S. beef. For January through August, beef exports to Korea were down 8% from a year ago in volume (149,092 mt) and were 3% lower in value ($1.51 billion).

August beef exports to the Middle East increased 4% from a year ago to 3,841 mt, while value soared 73% as the region took a higher ratio of muscle cuts. August shipments to the United Arab Emirates were the largest in four years, while exports to Kuwait were the largest since 2024 and exports to Qatar were the largest in 11 months. Exports to Saudi Arabia also trended higher year-over-year. An Export Verification Program for Saudi Arabia was removed in April, greatly expanding the eligible share of U.S. beef production. This has helped export value to Saudi Arabia climb 62% through August, reaching nearly $9 million. January-August exports to the Middle East were 2% higher in value at $157 million, despite an 11% decline in volume (29,539 mt).

Other January-August export results for U.S. beef include:

• August beef exports to Japan achieved a 2% increase in value ($140 million) despite a 13% decline in volume. The January-August trend was similar, with exports holding steady with last year in value ($1.21 billion) despite dropping 8% in volume (151,479 mt). Even with this decline, Japan maintained its position as the leading volume destination for U.S. beef and beef variety meats, just ahead of Korea.

• A rebound in Indonesia and robust growth in Vietnam have driven beef exports to the ASEAN region higher in 2026. August exports to the ASEAN increased slightly in volume (2,694 mt) and climbed 22% in value ($23.5 million). These results pushed January-August exports to 22,897 mt, up 20% from a year ago, valued at $207.1 million (up 38%). While the U.S. industry welcomes this year’s increase (versus minimal 2025 levels) in exports to Indonesia, the country still maintains numerous non-tariff barriers that U.S. trade officials are working to eliminate through a reciprocal trade agreement.

• While August beef exports to the Caribbean were slightly below last year in volume (2,494 mt), export value still increased 19% to $31.2 million. Fueled by strong growth in the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, the Netherlands Antilles, Leeward-Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, January-August exports to the region increased 7% to 22,747 mt, while value soared 25% to $262.8 million.

• Thriving demand for variety meat in Peru and for muscle cuts in Colombia have driven beef exports to South America higher in 2026. Through August, exports to the region were 8% above last year in volume (13,827 mt) and 25% higher in value ($118.6 million).

• As noted above, August beef exports to China increased from minimal year-ago levels, reaching 2,781 mt valued at $25.6 million. The increase reflects renewed eligibility for some U.S. plants, after China agreed in May to renew U.S. establishment registrations that Chinese regulators had allowed to expire. But many U.S. plants remain suspended, and most others remain reluctant to ship to China until clarity is achieved regarding residue testing. 

• Beef export value equated to $436.11 per head of fed slaughter in August, up 17% from a year ago. The January-August average was $430.97 per head, up 8%. Exports accounted for 12.7% of total August beef production, up from 12.1% a year ago. The January-August ratio was 12.9% of total production, down from 13.1% during the same period last year.

For muscle cuts, August exports also slowed, in part reflecting increasing availability of domestic pork within Mexico. These results pushed January-August exports to Mexico 3% below last year’s record pace in volume (756,466 mt) and 4% lower in value ($1.72 billion).

Pork exports to other Western Hemisphere markets fared much better in August. Led by robust growth in Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, August shipments to Central America increased 18% from a year ago in volume (17,095 mt) and value ($56.3 million). Exports to the region are on a record pace through August, climbing 11% to 130,987 mt, while value increased 15% to $432.3 million.

After a slow first quarter, pork exports to Colombia have also rebounded to record levels in 2026. August exports to Colombia jumped 34% in volume (12,649 mt) and 35% in value ($37.7 million) from a year ago. This was the highest volume since the near-record total in May and otherwise the highest since March 2025. These results pushed January-August shipments to Colombia 5% above last year at 89,812 mt, while value increased 6% to $260.7 million.

Other January-August export results for U.S. pork include:

• August pork exports to the Dominican Republic increased 9% from a year ago to 7,212 mt, while value was 8% higher at $21.5 million. January-August exports to the DR climbed 23% in volume (72,423 mt) and 22% in value ($212.3 million) compared to the same period last year.

• Pork exports to Japan have trended higher in 2026 but took a step back in August, with shipments falling 6% in volume (22,841 mt) and 12% in value ($86.2 million) from a year ago. Through August, shipments to Japan were still 13% above last year at 241,787 mt, while value increased 8% to $918.3 million.

• Korea’s demand for U.S. pork has softened this year, due in part to a spike in imports of Spanish pork, which is currently ineligible for Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia due to African swine fever (ASF) cases in Spain. For January through August, U.S. exports to Korea were 8% below last year in volume (134,996 mt) and 7% lower in value ($441.9 million).

• Pork exports to China, which are primarily variety meats, trended lower in August at 29,528 mt (down 6%), while value fell 13% to $59.2 million. January-August shipments to China were 9% above last year in volume (271,354 mt) but value declined 4% to $560.6 million, reflecting the 47% tariff on U.S. pork and pork variety meat, as well as large Chinese pork production, against sluggish demand.

• Taiwan was an Asian bright spot for U.S. pork in August, with exports nearly tripling from low year-ago totals to 854 mt (up 189%), while value climbed 48% to $1.5 million. January-August exports to Taiwan increased 28% from a year ago to 7,263 mt, while value increased 13% to $15.9 million.

• Pork export value equated to $61.12 per head slaughtered in August, down nearly 10% from the very strong average posted in August 2025. January-August export value equated to $65.47 per head, down slightly from a year ago. Exports accounted for 29.4% of total August pork production and 25.3% of muscle cuts, down from the respective year-ago ratios of 31% and 26.3%. For January through August, exports accounted for 30% of total production and 26.3% of muscle cuts, each up slightly from the same period last year.

August lamb exports lowest of the year

Despite larger shipments to Mexico and the Netherlands Antilles, August exports of U.S. lamb muscle cuts totaled 129 mt, down 41% from a year ago and the lowest of 2026, as volumes slowed to other top markets including the Bahamas and Leeward-Windward Islands. August export value fell 29% to just over $900,000.  

For January through August, lamb muscle cut exports totaled 1,827 mt, down 11% from a year ago, but remained 1% higher in value at just under $11 million.

Complete January-August 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.