July exports of U.S. beef climbed 6% year over year in value while volume was steady, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Beef exports totaled 89,139 metric tons (mt), steady with last July, while value was 6% higher at $796.7 million. The value increase was driven primarily by another outstanding month for Taiwan, as well as strong results in Mexico, Japan, the Middle East, Colombia, the Caribbean and the ASEAN region.
July shipments to China rebounded slightly from last year’s minimal volumes but remained far below the levels seen in previous years. Beef export value equated to just over $421 per head of fed slaughter in July, up 14% from a year ago. The January-July average was up 7% to $430.25 per head.
For January through July, beef exports were 8% below last year’s pace at 634,788 mt, while value was down 2% to $5.53 billion. When excluding China from these results, exports increased 6% in value and were down just 1% in volume from a year ago.
“Despite significant headwinds, global demand for U.S. beef remains impressively resilient,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Technical barriers and uncertainty continue to weigh heavily on exports to China, but we are hopeful that market access will be restored soon. In the meantime, U.S. beef is capitalizing on growth opportunities in Asian and Western Hemisphere markets, as well as in the Middle East.”
July lamb exports below last year
Exports of U.S. lamb muscle cuts totaled 206 mt in July, down 14% from a year ago, while value fell 6% to $1.26 million. For January through July, lamb export value increased 4% to just over $10 million, despite a 7% decline in volume (1,698 mt).
The value increase was primarily driven by the Bahamas ($2.14 million, up 48%), Netherlands Antilles ($1.45 million, up 40%) and Leeward-Windward Islands ($1.04 million, up 42%). — USMEF
