Beef exports continue to decline, but South Korea makes a comeback

ZISK
Sep 10
1 min read

U.S. beef exports have faced considerable headwinds in 2025, largely in the form of high tariff rates and the ensuing trade policy fallout in key markets for U.S. beef. According to data from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), the latest export numbers show that July beef exports totaled 89,579 metric tons (MT), a 19% drop compared from 2024 and the lowest in five years. Export values totaled $752.5 million, a 17% decrease and the lowest since January 2023. Overall, exports were down 8% in volume and 7.5% in value from January through July compared to 2024.

This sharp decline in exports is largely due to the massive fall of exports to China. In 2024, China imported a record 2.87 million MT of U.S. beef, making it the third-largest export market value-wise and the fourth-largest by volume. In 2025, July exports to China dropped 92% from a year ago to 1,110 MT. Export value dropped 94% to less than $8 million. Year-to-date exports to China are down 46% at 55,632 MT, and value is down 47% with a total of $481.4 million.

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