US beef exports to Korea top $2B pace
November dips in Korea and Japan as ASEAN rebounds
17 February 2026
1 minute read
By: While January-November beef exports to leading value market Korea remained slightly ahead of the 2024 pace, November exports declined 20% to 17,258 mt, valued at $176.2 million (down 15%), according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Through the first 11 months of 2025, exports were 1% higher in both volume (211,665 mt) and value ($2.02 billion) – topping the $2 billion mark for the fifth consecutive year.
November beef exports to Japan were nearly steady with a year ago at 18,108 mt (down 1%), while value slipped 5% to $138.5 million. Beef variety meat shipments to Japan – mostly tongues and skirts – were a bright spot at 5,495 mt, up 81% from a year ago, while value climbed 59% to $47.6 million. January-November exports to Japan (muscle cuts plus variety meat) were down 2% from a year ago in volume (219,329 mt) and were 6% lower in value ($1.62 billion).
Led by a rebound in Indonesia, where non-tariff barriers have plagued US beef, November exports to the ASEAN region totaled 4,718 mt, up 23% from a year ago, while value increased 26% to $33.4 million. Through November, exports to the region were still down 18% in volume (32,574 mt) and 23% in value ($249.5 million). Prospects for growth going forward will depend largely on policy decisions by the Indonesian government, which has pledged to make substantial improvements in market access for US beef but still maintains many complex import restrictions, which are unlikely to be addressed unless and until an agreement on reciprocal trade is signed and implemented.
