While 2023 beef exports were below the record totals posted the previous year, December exports were the largest since August and December export value increased 10% year-over-year, according to year-end data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
December exports of U.S. beef totaled 108,497 metric tons (mt), down 4% year over year but the largest since August. Export value was also the highest since August and climbed 10% year over year to $860.8 million.
2023 beef exports totaled 1.29 million mt, down 12% from the 2022 record. While export value fell 15% to just under $10 billion, this was still the third highest annual value for beef exports.
Mexico’s demand for U.S. beef continued to strengthen in December, pushing 2023 exports to the largest volume since 2019 and export value to $1.19 billion, the second highest on record.
Beef exports to Central America and the Dominican Republic were record-large in 2023, while shipments also trended higher to Hong Kong, Africa and Peru. While December exports to leading market South Korea remained lower than a year ago in volume, export value ($220.6 million) was the highest in 18 months. This helped push December export value per head of fed slaughter to $431.50, the highest since April. For the year, per-head export value averaged $397.04.
“There is no question that 2023 was a challenging year for U.S. beef exports, especially in our largest Asian markets where economic conditions have weighed on foodservice demand,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Of course, we were also challenged on the supply side, with less product available for export. But nevertheless, U.S. beef achieved excellent growth in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and we are encouraged by the December uptick in demand in South Korea and China. It was also great to see such strong per-head export value in December, topping $430.”
Lamb exports declined
Led by growth in Mexico, the Bahamas and the Netherlands Antilles, December exports of U.S. lamb totaled 186 mt, up 13% year-over-year, while export value climbed 16% to $1.1 million. For 2023, exports declined 16% to 2,355 mt, while value fell 15% to $12.6 million. Full-year exports increased to Central America, the Netherlands Antilles and the Bahamas, but declined to Mexico and Canada.
A detailed summary of the 2023 export results for U.S. beef, pork and lamb, including market-specific highlights, is available from the USMEF website, usmef.org. — USMEF
