Quality U.S. Meat Wins Fans in Costa Rica

Good news is coming out of Central America for U.S. farmers and ranchers. Demand for American red meat is rising, and it is opening doors for new partnerships with importers and distributors who want to better serve their customers. Through September, U.S. pork and beef exports are on a record pace to the region, with Costa Rica leading the way.

USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation shows pork exports to Costa Rica from January through September 2025 climbed 18 percent by volume and 17 percent by value to $59.9 million. Beef exports jumped, up 21 percent by volume and 44 percent by value to $29.4 million. Lamb exports surged, increasing 247 percent to $229,000.

“Demand is growing for high-quality U.S. red meat throughout the region,” says USMEF Central America Representative Lucia Ruano.

To meet that demand, USMEF hosted training for importers, supermarket managers, and sales teams, featuring cutting demos and education on U.S. production practices. These seminars were supported by the National Pork Board and the Beef Checkoff Program.