US Meat Exports Show Mixed Trends… Beef Up 4%, Pork Down 6%

U.S. beef and pork exports showed different trends last August. While beef exports increased in both volume and value compared to the same month last year, driven by increased exports to South Korea and Taiwan, pork exports were sluggish due to a decline in exports to Mexico, the largest export market.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) export statistics released by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) on October 7, U.S. beef exports in August 2026 totaled 86,362 tons, a 4% increase from the same month of the previous year. Export value rose 13% to $785.9 million.

On the other hand, pork export volume decreased by 6% to 222,243 tons, and export value decreased by 12% to $606.3 million.

US Beef and Pork August Export Performance

Cumulative beef exports from January to August totaled 721,150 tons, a 7% decrease from the same period last year, while export value fell 1% to $6.32 billion. The USMEF explained that this decline was primarily due to disruptions in exports to the Chinese market.

Excluding China, U.S. beef exports from January to August decreased by only 1% compared to the same period last year, while export value actually increased by 6%. Cumulative pork exports reached approximately 1.95 million tons, a 1% increase from the previous year, and export value stood at $5.47 billion, maintaining the previous year's level.

The USMEF expected that South Korea's activation of safeguards on Australian beef would create more export opportunities for U.S. beef in the Korean market.

According to the USMEF, Korean beef importers have been securing frozen beef stockpiles in advance in preparation for the activation of safeguards on Australian beef. The general tariff rate applied to Australian beef is 5%, but a tariff rate of 24% will be applied after the safeguards are activated.

South Korea's imports of Australian beef exceeded the safeguard trigger threshold at the end of last July. The USMEF expected that this situation would provide more export opportunities for U.S. beef in the Korean market.

Dan Halstrom, Chairman and CEO of USMEF, stated that the association has been anticipating an increase in beef exports to Korea in the second half of this year, and that this outlook was reflected in the August results.

However, on a cumulative basis from January to August, the volume of U.S. beef exports to Korea was 149,092 tons, an 8% decrease compared to the same period last year. Export value also fell by 3% to $1.51 billion.

Pork exports to Korea down 8%... USMEF points to increased imports from Spain

U.S. pork exports to the Korean market showed a different trend compared to beef.

According to the USMEF, U.S. pork exports to Korea from January to August this year totaled 134,996 tons, down 8% from the same period last year. Export value fell 7% to $441.9 million.

The USMEF identified the surge in imports of Spanish pork as one of the reasons for the weakened demand for U.S. pork in Korea this year. The association explained that due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Spain, Spanish pork could not be exported to Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia at the time.

Strong Taiwan Beef Exports… 68% Share in Chilled Beef Import Market

Taiwan showed a notable increase in U.S. beef exports in August. Beef exports to Taiwan in August totaled 6,753 tons, a 37% increase from the same month last year. This marks the sixth-highest monthly export volume on record.

Exports increased by 35% to $85.5 million, marking the second-highest performance on record. This is close to the all-time high of $86.1 million recorded in April 2022.

Cumulative export volume from January to August increased by 15% to 42,900 tons, and export value rose by 18% to $514.7 million. According to the USMEF, U.S. beef accounts for 68% of Taiwan's chilled beef import market.

ASEAN Beef Exports Up 20%... Vietnam and Indonesia Growth

Exports of U.S. beef to the ASEAN region also increased. In August, export volume to ASEAN was 2,694 tons, a slight increase from the same month last year, and export value rose by 22% to $23.5 million.

Cumulative export volume from January to August increased by 20% to 22,897 tons, and export value rose by 38% to $207.1 million. The USMEF cited increased demand in Vietnam and the recovery of the Indonesian market as the main factors.

Chinese beef exports remain restricted… Facility registration and residue testing requirements are obstacles

U.S. beef exports to China increased compared to the low performance of the same period last year, but are still being affected by technical trade barriers.

In August, U.S. beef exports to China recorded 2,781 tons and $25.6 million in value. Although China renewed the registration of some U.S. slaughter and processing facilities last May, export restrictions on a significant number of facilities remain in place.

In addition, it was found that even companies that have regained export eligibility are hesitating to ship to China because the requirements for testing for residues are unclear. The USMEF also noted that China has been applying a 55% safeguard tariff on Australian beef since June 20.

Mexico's pork exports fall 12%... Impact of local production recovery and slowing ham demand

The decline in U.S. pork exports in August was primarily attributed to the sluggishness of the Mexican market.

Pork exports to Mexico in August totaled 90,560 tons, a 12% decrease compared to the same month last year. Export value fell by 22% to $197.1 million.

The USMEF cited the recovery of Mexico's domestic pork production and the recent slowdown in ham demand as major factors. Additionally, exports of U.S. pork by-products were disrupted from May to July due to import restrictions related to pseudorabies.

Cumulative exports to Mexico from January to August amounted to 756,466 tons, a 3% decrease from the same period last year, and export value fell by 4% to $1.72 billion.

Increase in pork exports to Central America, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic

Unlike Mexico, U.S. pork exports to Central America increased. In August, pork exports to Central America totaled 17,095 tons, an 18% increase from the same month last year. Export value also rose by 18% to $56.3 million.

Pork exports to Colombia also increased. In August, export volume rose 34% to 12,649 tons, and export value increased 35% to $37.7 million.

Pork exports to the Dominican Republic reached 7,212 tons in August, a 9% increase from the same month last year. Export value rose 8% to $21.5 million.

Japan's cumulative pork exports increased by 13%... China's export value decreased

Exports of U.S. pork to Japan decreased in August, but maintained an upward trend on a cumulative basis. Export volume in August was 22,841 tons, down 6% from the same month last year, and export value was $86.2 million, down 12%.

However, cumulative export volume from January to August increased by 13% to 241,787 tons, and export value increased by 8% to $918.3 million.

Pork exports to China in August totaled 29,528 tons, a 6% decrease from the same month last year. Export value fell 13% to $59.2 million. Cumulative export volume from January to August increased by 9% to 271,354 tons, but export value decreased by 4% to $560.6 million.

30% of U.S. pork production exported… 12.9% of beef

Exports also maintained a high share of the U.S. meat industry. In August, the export value of U.S. beef per slaughtered fattening head was $436.11, a 17% increase from the same month last year. The average for January through August was $430.97 per head, an 8% increase.

The share of exports in August beef production was 12.7%, higher than the 12.1% recorded in the same month of the previous year. The cumulative share of exports from January to August was 12.9%, slightly lower than the 13.1% recorded during the same period of the previous year.

The export value of pork per slaughtered head in August was $61.12, a decrease of about 10% compared to the same month last year. The average from January to August was $65.47 per head, a slight decrease from the previous year.

In August, the export share of pork production was 29.4%, and based on processed meat alone, it was 25.3%. On a cumulative basis from January to August, 30% of total pork production and 26.3% of processed meat production were exported.

data
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Original text:August Beef Exports above Year-Ago, but Pork Trended Lower
Release Date: October 7, 2026 / Basis for Statistics: August 2026 and cumulative January–August
Export volume includes both meat and by-products unless otherwise indicated.