Offal Restrictions Impact May Pork Exports; Beef Export Value Above Year-Ago

Although May exports of U.S. pork were higher year-over-year, volumes were significantly diminished by Mexico’s restrictions on pork offal items, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). May beef exports were below last year’s volume but edged higher in value.    

Pork exports totaled 245,874 metric tons (mt) in May, up 10% from a year ago, with value up 8% to $701 million. But exports in May 2025 were unusually low due to heightened trade tensions with China, which temporarily pushed China’s tariff rate on U.S. pork as high as 172%. This impasse heavily impacted exports of pork variety meat, which totaled just over 30,000 mt in May 2025. While pork variety meat exports exceeded 40,000 mt in May 2026, this was easily the lowest total of the year as January-April shipments averaged nearly 49,000 mt. May variety meat exports to Mexico were just 3,157 mt, down 80% from a year ago, due to restrictions imposed after the April 30 detection of pseudorabies virus (PRV) antibodies in five boars in Iowa. May bright spots for U.S. pork included the largest shipments to Japan since 2021, an outstanding performance from Colombia and strong growth in Central America. Export value per head slaughtered topped $71.

For January through May, pork and pork variety meat exports totaled 1.28 million mt, up 5% from a year ago, while value was also up 5% to $3.59 billion. In both volume and value, pork exports are less than 1% below the record pace established in 2024.

“While U.S. pork exports are posting a strong performance in 2026, the May results underscore the urgent need for Mexico to fully remove its PRV-related restrictions on pork offal and other products,” USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom explained. “This situation is costing the U.S. industry millions of dollars per week and severely impacting customers in Mexico, who are scrambling to find alternative products and suppliers.”

Although Mexico modified its restrictions in early June to allow pork offal shipments from states other than Iowa and Texas, source verification requirements, and the importance of Iowa as the leading hog-producing state, continue to pose significant obstacles for exporters. 

May beef exports totaled 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 U.S. 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,” 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%. U.S. beef enters Korea at zero duty under the Korea-U.S. FTA. Australia triggered its beef safeguard for China on June 18, and has since faced a 55% tariff for exports entering that market.

With variety meat shipments falling dramatically, total pork plus pork variety meat exports to Mexico reached just 81,047 mt in May – down 17% from a year ago and the lowest since July 2023. Export value totaled $185.7 million, down 14% (or $30 million) and breaking a string of 13 consecutive months in which exports to Mexico exceeded $200 million.

For January through May, exports to Mexico were still slightly ahead of last year’s volume pace at 484,722 mt, while value increased 3% to $1.09 billion. Although some offal shipments to Mexico resumed in early June, exports are expected to remain significantly below year-ago levels until Mexico’s PRV-related restrictions are fully removed.

Japan’s demand for U.S. pork continued to gain momentum in May, as exports totaled 37,872 mt, up 26% from a year ago and the largest since March 2021. Value increased 25% to $145.7 million – the highest since November 2021. For January through May, exports to Japan were 19% above last year’s pace at 161,330 mt, and were 14% higher in value at $613.7 million.

Led by growth in Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala, pork exports to Central America continued to shine in May. Shipments reached 16,187 mt, up 10% from a year ago, while value climbed 11% to $53.1 million. For January through May, exports to the region were 8% above last year’s record pace at 81,741 mt, valued at $270.7 million (up 13%).

Other January-May results for U.S. pork exports include:

• Pork exports to Colombia had pulled back in recent months but rebounded impressively in May, posting the second largest monthly volume and value on record. Shipments totaled 14,397 mt, up 14% from a year ago, while value increased 19% to $41.5 million. Through the first five months of the year, exports to Colombia were 5% below last year’s pace in both volume (54,859 mt) and value ($158.3 million). Colombia also imposed PRV-related restrictions on pork offal, similar to those in Mexico, but they came later in May and it is a relatively small market for pork variety meats. The restrictions mainly impacted exports of jowls and further processed products, and Colombian regulators recently published a resolution removing them.

• May pork exports to the Dominican Republic reached 9,557 mt, up 22% from a year ago, while value climbed 27% to $27.5 million. Through May, shipments to the DR were 34% above last year’s pace at 51,163 mt, valued at $148.6 million (up 33%). Exports are currently on pace to surpass the 2023 annual record.

• In the Philippines, where African swine fever continues to weigh on domestic production, U.S. pork exports have trended higher in 2026. May exports totaled 6,302 mt, up 74% from a year ago, while value was 67% higher at $12.7 million. January-May shipments to the Philippines were 30% above last year in volume (27,234 mt) and 17% higher in value ($56.9 million). This was driven by a significant jump in pork variety meat exports to 17,590 mt, up 53%, valued at $22.3 million, up 24%. The Philippines is the third largest export market for U.S. pork variety meat, after China and Mexico.

• As noted above, pork exports to China – which are primarily variety meat – were unusually low in May 2025. So the large year-over-year increase in May (37,518 mt, up 458%, valued at $76 million, up 267%) really represents a return to more normal levels. For January through May, exports to China were 20% above last year’s pace at 177,433 mt. Value increased only 3% to $373.3 million, as U.S. exports are still penalized by China’s retaliatory duties.

• Pork export value per head slaughtered was outstanding in May at $71.49, up 15% from a year ago and the ninth highest on record. The January-May average was $68.05 per head, up 6% from the same period last year. Exports accounted for 31.9% of total May pork production and 28.7% of muscle cuts, up significantly from the respective year-ago ratios of 27.8% and 25.9%. The January-May ratios were 30.9% of total production (up from 29.3%) and 27.1% for muscle cuts (up from 26%).

While May beef exports to Japan were lower than a year ago in volume (20,102 mt, down 8%), export value still increased 7% to $166.2 million. For January through May, exports to Japan were 9% below last year’s pace at 95,061 mt, while value was down 4% to $743.2 million. With the recent increase in U.S. production achieving the USDA Prime grade, USMEF has heightened efforts to promote Prime cuts that are underutilized in the U.S. market but can command a premium in Japan’s retail and foodservice sectors, such as Prime round cuts, chuck eye rolls and coulottes.

With Australian beef rapidly approaching a higher safeguard tariff in South Korea (see above), the situation has had a mixed impact on U.S. beef’s presence in the Korean market. On one hand, the higher tariff rate will certainly create additional opportunities for U.S. beef – especially chilled cuts – in the second half of the year, and USMEF has been positioning U.S. beef, including USDA Prime cuts, to take Australian shelf space. But in anticipation of the higher tariff, Korean importers have stockpiled frozen Australian beef, which has weighed on U.S. export results in the first half. In May, beef exports to Korea totaled 19,817 mt, down 21% from a year ago, while value fell 12% to $206 million. For January through May, exports to Korea were 10% below last year in volume (96,265 mt) and 6% lower in value ($959.8 million).

Other January-May results for U.S. beef exports include:

• Led by the largest exports to Chile since 2022 at nearly 900 mt (up 54% year-over-year, valued at $7.5 million, up 55%), May beef exports to South America increased 13% from a year ago to 1,634 mt, while value soared 41% to $14.9 million. January-May results followed a similar trend, increasing 13% in volume (8,790 mt) and 38% in value ($77.7 million).

• While May beef exports to Central America were below last year in volume (1,901 mt, down 7%), value still climbed 12% to $20.8 million. For January through May, exports to the region increased 14% in value to $102.1 million, despite a slight decline in volume (9,968 mt, down 2%).

• May beef exports to the ASEAN increased significantly year-over-year, mainly due to the re-emergence of Indonesia following elimination of some onerous non-tariff barriers. Shipments to the region increased 38% from a year ago to 3,193 mt, valued at $31.4 million (up 61%). With demand also strengthening in Vietnam, January-May exports to the ASEAN climbed 33% above last year in volume (14,242 mt) and were 43% higher in value ($125.8 million). Despite recent improvements, Indonesia continues to use import licensing to heavily restrict imports through its de facto quota system. If the U.S.-Indonesia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade is implemented, opportunities in the market will be tremendous.

• The conflict in Iran has negatively impacted beef exports to the Middle East – both in terms of foodservice demand and transportation challenges. But shipments to Egypt, which are mostly livers and other variety meat, have been less affected. While May exports to Egypt slipped 4% below a year ago to 2,570 mt, value increased 17% to $6.2 million. January-May shipments to Egypt increased 12% in value to $34.3 million, despite a 9% decline in volume (14,458 mt).

• Beef exports to Africa, which are also primarily variety meat, climbed 15% above last year in May to 1,396 mt, valued at $3.4 million (up 70%). Through May, exports to Africa were down 12% in volume (5,264 mt) but still increased 20% in value ($11.3 million). The increase in value was led by strong growth in Morocco and a rebound in demand from South Africa. Other major markets include Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon.

• While some progress has been made in restoring access for U.S. beef in China, many U.S. establishments remain suspended and others are deterred from exporting to China by lingering technical barriers. Shipments to China remained minimal in May, totaling just 471 mt valued at $2.7 million.

• May was another large month for beef variety meat export results, with shipments climbing 34% from a year ago in volume (27,200 mt) and 55% higher in value ($128.4 million). However, based on analysis of import data from major markets and U.S. market dynamics, USMEF anticipates downward adjustments to the 2026 beef variety meat export data, with some volume and value possibly reclassified as muscle cuts.

• Beef export value equated to $468 per head of fed slaughter in May, up 15% from a year ago and the highest since July 2022. The January-May average was $435.38 per head, up 5% from the same period in 2025. May beef exports accounted for 13.8% of total May beef production and 10.4% of muscle cuts, up from 13.3% and 11.3%, respectively, in May 2025. The January-May ratios were 13.1% of total production (down from 13.6%) and 9.9% of muscle cuts (down from 11.4%.

Lamb exports continue downward trend

Exports of U.S. lamb muscle cuts totaled 215 mt in May, down 41% from a year ago, valued at $1.3 million (down 28%). After a strong start to the year, January-May exports slipped 8% below a year ago in volume (1,257 mt) and 5% lower in value ($7 million). Larger exports to the Caribbean and Central America have been offset by lower shipments to Mexico and no exports to Canada have been reported in 2026.

Complete January-May 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.