Demand for US beef remains resilient in key markets - USMEF
China’s demand for US beef rebounded significantly
19 March 2025
2 minute read
By: January US beef exports to leading value market Korea were steady with last year at 18,801 mt, while value climbed 7% to $182.4 million, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Although January shipments were below the levels achieved in the fourth quarter of 2024, Korea’s demand for US beef has held up well despite ongoing economic uncertainty stemming from the impeachment of embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol, with the Korean won recently trading at its lowest levels versus the US dollar since 2009.
Beef exports to China totalled 15,920 mt in January, up 35% from the low volume posted a year ago, while value climbed 34% to $137.3 million.
Similar to Korea, China’s demand for US beef rebounded significantly in the second half of 2024. However, the US industry faces great uncertainly in China as the registrations for most exporting establishments are set to expire March 16.
US officials are working to resolve the issue but if these plants are no longer eligible after mid-March, this will largely unravel the market access gains achieved under the US-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement, and the billions of dollars in trade this agreement unlocked for the US industry.
US beef will soon be subject to an additional 10% tariff in China, bringing the total to 22% effective March 10. Exports to Hong Kong (which totalled 2,838 mt in January, valued at $25.7 million) are not impacted by the plant eligibility situation and are not subject to the retaliatory tariffs.
Beef exports to the Middle East rebounded impressively in 2024 and continued to trend higher in January. Exports totalled 5,120 mt, up 5% from a year ago, while value increased 13% to $21.5 million.
This was driven primarily by robust beef variety meat shipments to Egypt, which were the highest since December 2022 and climbed 10% in volume (3,994 mt) and 25% in value ($6.9 million).
Although beef muscle cut exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were below last year in volume (308 mt, down 34%), value climbed 18% to $5.9 million.
Shipments to the UAE had slowed sharply toward the end of 2024 due to issues related to halal certification.
