US beef exports fell to 89,579 tonnes (t) in July, which is 19% lower than July last year and the lowest monthly total since January 2023.
The US Meat Exporters Federation (USMEF) data shows that for the year to July, the US exported 691,800t of beef, which was 8% less than in the same period last year.
The biggest single cause isn’t tariffs, but rather the decision by China not to renew import licenses for US beef-exporting factories and cold stores.
Most of these expired in March this year and a further 11 US export premises were suspended since June. USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom described the situation with China as leaving US beef essentially "shut out of the market after exporters worked through their eligible inventories” and that “restoring access to China is clearly the urgent priority”.
Just 1,110t of US beef was exported to China in July.
Other markets for US beef
Apart from China, the picture for US beef exports to other markets was brighter.
Volumes to South Korea were up 13% in July compared with July last year at 19,907t and for the year to date, the volume is up 9% at 146,084t.
This is despite the ongoing ban on beef from cattle over 30 months and the requirement that cattle originating in Canada spend at least 100 days on a US farm.
It was a less positive report from Japan, where volumes were down 4% in July compared with the same month last year to 21,048t.
There was an even bigger decline in US beef exports to Mexico in July, down 15% to 122,061t.
Trade relations between the US and Mexico have been strained over recent months and, in addition, Brazil’s beef exports to Mexico have increased significantly in recent weeks since the additional 50% tariff was imposed on Brazil.
Australian beef export increases pause in August
While US beef exports have been in the doldrums in 2025, the opposite has been the case in Australia.
The monthly beef export record was set in July, volumes were back in August to 135,571t, which is still 11% higher than in August last year and the largest volume ever exported for the month.
The main interest for Irish farmers and exporters in Australian beef is how it is performing in the UK market.
In August, 1,676t was exported to the UK, down from over 2,000t the previous month, but well up on August last year.
Despite increasing volumes being exported to the UK, it still remains a tiny market in the overall context of Australian beef exports.
Comment – turbulent times for international trade
2025 has been the most turbulent year in recent times for international trade across all commodities.
In the beef sector in particular, global trade is responding to an abundance of supply in Brazil and Australia and a deficit in the US, the third-biggest exporter, because cattle population is at a 70-year low.
This also applies to the EU and UK, both significant importers. Yet trade as always finds a way.
There has been some movement triggered by tariff policy, but, in general, markets have been found, so far without major price disruption.
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Another export record for Australian beef in July
US beef exports fell to 89,579 tonnes (t) in July, which is 19% lower than July last year and the lowest monthly total since January 2023.
The US Meat Exporters Federation (USMEF) data shows that for the year to July, the US exported 691,800t of beef, which was 8% less than in the same period last year.
The biggest single cause isn’t tariffs, but rather the decision by China not to renew import licenses for US beef-exporting factories and cold stores.
Most of these expired in March this year and a further 11 US export premises were suspended since June. USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom described the situation with China as leaving US beef essentially "shut out of the market after exporters worked through their eligible inventories” and that “restoring access to China is clearly the urgent priority”.
Just 1,110t of US beef was exported to China in July.
Other markets for US beef
Apart from China, the picture for US beef exports to other markets was brighter.
Volumes to South Korea were up 13% in July compared with July last year at 19,907t and for the year to date, the volume is up 9% at 146,084t.
This is despite the ongoing ban on beef from cattle over 30 months and the requirement that cattle originating in Canada spend at least 100 days on a US farm.
It was a less positive report from Japan, where volumes were down 4% in July compared with the same month last year to 21,048t.
There was an even bigger decline in US beef exports to Mexico in July, down 15% to 122,061t.
Trade relations between the US and Mexico have been strained over recent months and, in addition, Brazil’s beef exports to Mexico have increased significantly in recent weeks since the additional 50% tariff was imposed on Brazil.
Australian beef export increases pause in August
While US beef exports have been in the doldrums in 2025, the opposite has been the case in Australia.
The monthly beef export record was set in July, volumes were back in August to 135,571t, which is still 11% higher than in August last year and the largest volume ever exported for the month.
The main interest for Irish farmers and exporters in Australian beef is how it is performing in the UK market.
In August, 1,676t was exported to the UK, down from over 2,000t the previous month, but well up on August last year.
Despite increasing volumes being exported to the UK, it still remains a tiny market in the overall context of Australian beef exports.
Comment – turbulent times for international trade
2025 has been the most turbulent year in recent times for international trade across all commodities.
In the beef sector in particular, global trade is responding to an abundance of supply in Brazil and Australia and a deficit in the US, the third-biggest exporter, because cattle population is at a 70-year low.
This also applies to the EU and UK, both significant importers. Yet trade as always finds a way.
There has been some movement triggered by tariff policy, but, in general, markets have been found, so far without major price disruption.
Read more
US trade deal 'isn't all bad news' for Irish farmers
US beef exports hit five-year low
Another export record for Australian beef in July
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