Good News, Bad News for Cattle and Pork Exports

Exports of US beef and pork trended lower in May, due primarily to steep declines in shipments to China, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. USMEF, President and CEO, Dan Halstrom.

“The real issue around the beef side is that the vast majority of our plant establishments are not listed in the registration system. So it doesn't really matter what the duties are on the pork side. While the good news there is the plants are listed for the most part, we continue to fight these tariff fluctuations as high as 172% and then in mid May, we saw the pork tariff come down to 57% so the bottom line here is this just heightens the overall strategy, the diversification of markets and expansion to new markets.”

But it's not all dim news when it comes to beef exports to other countries, as Halstom explains, a bright spot was Korea.”

Korea came in at about 25,200 tons. That's represents 40% growth year on year. It is the highest volume month in two years since March of 2023, and on the value side, at about 230, $3 million, that is the largest value month for Korea since June of 2022.”

Don Halstrom, President and CEO of the US Meat Export Federation.