US beef exports rebound in October despite China absence - USMEF
Shipments hit highest levels since June, USDA data show
29 January 2026
1 minute read
By: US beef exports remained lower year-over-year, shipments rebounded to some degree in October, posting the largest totals since June, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Beef exports totalled 93,448 mt in October, down 11% year-over-year but the largest since June and 16% above the low volume posted in September. Export value was also the highest since June at $759.5 million, down 12% from a year ago but 15% above September. October beef exports increased year-over-year to Japan, Taiwan, Canada, the ASEAN region and the Dominican Republic, while also jumping sharply to Colombia. But these gains were more than offset by lack of access to China, which has reduced exports to minimal volumes for the past several months. For markets other than China, October beef exports were up 5% year-over-year in volume and up 7% in value.
January-October beef exports totalled 949,471 mt, down 11% from the 2024 pace, while value was down 10% to $7.79 billion. When excluding China from these results, exports were down 3% in volume and just 1% in value compared to the first 10 months of 2024.
“The latest export data confirm what I consistently hear from customers across the world and from our international staff – that global demand for US red meat remains robust, despite tight supplies and formidable market access barriers,” said USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Obviously, regaining access for US beef in China is our most urgent priority, as industry losses from this lockout are enormous. But we are also hopeful that ongoing trade negotiations will remove barriers in other destinations where consumers have a growing appetite for high-quality red meat.”
