“March was another spectacular month for U.S. pork demand in Mexico and Central America, but exports also rebounded nicely to Colombia and Korea,” Halstrom said. “Duty-free access has helped fuel pork exports to these key markets, where we continue to see heightened competition.”
Plant eligibility for China is less of an issue for U.S. pork than for U.S. beef, as China renewed most pork establishments in mid-March. But Halstrom cautioned that both pork and beef exports to China have since hit a wall due to China’s prohibitive duties, which now total 172% for U.S. pork and 147% for U.S. beef.
“Shipments already in the pipeline can still clear without the extra 125% tariff, provided they shipped before April 10 and arrive in China by May 13,” Halstrom explained. “But new business has been effectively halted until there is a de-escalation of the U.S.-China trade impasse.”
Taiwan, Mexico, Central America fuel March beef export growth
March was a bounceback month for U.S. beef exports to Taiwan, which jumped 34% from a year ago to 5,086 mt, while export value climbed 33% to $60.5 million. These results pushed first-quarter exports to Taiwan 1% above last year’s pace at 12,212 mt, while export value climbed 11% to $147.6 million. The U.S. is the dominant supplier of high-value chilled beef in Taiwan, capturing 72% of the chilled import market.
Beef exports to Mexico also closed the first quarter on a high note, increasing 6% from a year ago in March to 17,592 mt, while export value climbed 7% to $110.9 million. For January through March, shipments to Mexico were 3% below last year’s pace at 54,861 mt, while value was steady at $332.7 million. Mexico is the leading volume destination for U.S. beef variety meat, including large volumes of tripe, lips and hearts. First-quarter variety meat shipments increased 5% from a year ago in volume (30,162 mt) and 6% in value ($81.6 million).
Coming off a record year in 2024, beef exports to Central America continue to gain momentum. Led by growth in Guatemala and Panama, March exports to the region increased 23% from a year ago to 2,158 mt, valued at $19.8 million (up 29%). First-quarter exports were 5% above last year at 6,018 mt, with exports to Costa Rica and Panama on a record pace. Value climbed an impressive 24% to $52.5 million, led by a record value pace in Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras.
Other first-quarter results for U.S. beef exports include:
March beef exports to Japan were steady with last year in both volume (21,683 mt) and value ($168.5 million). For January through March, exports were down 5% to 59,846 mt, valued at $451.8 million (down 4%). This is largely due to a sharp decline in beef variety meat exports – mainly tongues and skirts – which fell 16% to 9,299 mt, valued at $91.3 million (down 24%).
Beef exports to South Korea trended modestly lower in March, declining 6% to 20,838 mt, while value fell 2% to $206.2 million. First-quarter exports to Korea, which is the leading value destination for U.S. beef, were slightly below last year’s volume pace at 58,179 mt, but increased 3% in value to $568.4 million.
Ahead of the March 16 expiration of most U.S. beef-producing plants’ eligibility for China, exports managed a slight increase over last year at 15,907 mt, while value was up 5% at $141.5 million. First-quarter exports to the China/Hong Kong region increased 4% to 53,039 mt, while value was steady at $468.7 million.
Led by an uptick in variety meat demand in Cote D’Ivoire, Morocco and Gabon, beef exports to Africa gained momentum in March, climbing 73% from a year ago in volume (1,550 mt) and more than doubling in value ($2.9 million, up 123%). These strong results pushed first-quarter exports 15% above last year at 3,658 mt, while value increased 34% to $5.8 million. First-quarter beef variety meat exports to Morocco, which were mostly livers, were record-large at 1,146 mt. Variety meat shipments were the largest in 12 years to Cote D’Ivoire (1,210 mt) and the largest in five years to Gabon (990 mt). USMEF recently led a trade mission to West Africa, which attracted buyers from a dozen countries to a two-day seminar in Accra, Ghana. More details are available from the USMEF website.
While beef exports to South America have trended lower in 2025, leading market Chile is a notable exception. March shipments to Chile surged to 810 mt, up 161% from a year ago, valued at $5.6 million (up 155%). First-quarter exports to Chile increased 41% to 2,021 mt, while value soared 77% to $14.1 million. Beef variety meat exports to Chile, mostly livers and tripe, are on a record pace at 1,173 mt, up 47% from last year.
March beef exports equated to $466.77 per head of fed slaughter, the seventh highest on record and topping last March’s robust average by 3%. The first-quarter per-head average was also up 3% to $421.56. Exports accounted for 14.8% of total March beef production and 12.5% for muscle cuts only – each down slightly from a year ago. First-quarter ratios were 13.8% of total production and 11.6% for muscle cuts, also down slightly from last year.
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