Beef Highlights:

April 2023:

Beef: 89,326 mt, -12%; $770 million, -19%
BVM: 22,090 mt, -5%; $89 million, -16%
Beef + BVM: 111,416 mt, -10%; $860 million, -18%

January – April 2023:

Beef: 347,260 mt, -9%, $2.864 billion, -21.5%
BVM: 90,650 mt, -6%; $349 million, -14.5%
Beef + BVM: 437,910 mt, -8%; $3.212 billion, -21%

April beef muscle cut exports totaled 89,326 mt, down 12% or -11,728 mt from last year. Compared to last year, beef muscle cut exports were higher to Korea (+890 mt), Mexico (+480 mt), and EU27 + UK (+480 mt). Exports were lower to Japan (-6,160 mt), ASEAN (-2,590 mt), Taiwan (-1,860 mt), South America (-810 mt), Caribbean + DR (-760 mt), the Middle East (-600 mt), China/HK (-270 mt), Central America (-260 mt), and Canada (-250 mt). Exports to Korea (23,330 mt, +4%) were higher year-over-year, while exports to Japan (16,080 mt, -28%) were at the lowest level since October 2016. Exports to Mexico (7,020 mt, +7%) were above year-ago levels for the fourth consecutive month, while exports to Canada (7,580 mt, -3%) were below year-ago levels, but were at the highest level so far this year. Exports to China/HK (19,460 mt, -1%) were slightly below year-ago levels, but were at the highest level since October, with exports to China (16,700 mt, -8%) below year-ago levels and exports to Hong Kong (2,760 mt, +67%) higher year-over-year. Exports to Indonesia (1,240 mt, -44%), the Philippines (1,210 mt, -46%), Vietnam (350 mt, -56%), Singapore (280 mt, -22%), and Thailand (70 mt, -55%) were lower year-over-year, resulting in exports to the ASEAN (3,220 mt, -45%) being below year-ago levels. Exports to Taiwan (5,610 mt, -25%) were lower year-over-year. Exports to the Leeward-Windward Islands (120 mt, +2%) were slightly higher year-over-year, while exports to the Dominican Republic (610 mt, -27%), the Bahamas (270 mt, -1%), Netherlands Antilles (190 mt, -9%), the Leeward-Windward Islands (120 mt, +2%), Jamaica (110 mt, -61%), Bermuda (70 mt, -18%), Trinidad and Tobago (60 mt, -70%), the Cayman Islands (40 mt, -76%), and Barbados (30 mt, -67%) were lower year-over-year, bringing exports to the Caribbean + DR (1,560 mt, -33%) below year-ago levels. Exports to Guatemala (480 mt, +15%) were above year-ago levels, while exports to Costa Rica (380 mt, -12.5%), Honduras (170 mt, -18.5%), Panama (100 mt, -66%), and El Salvador (50 mt, -36%) were below year-ago levels, bringing exports to Central America (1,190 mt, -18%) lower year-over-year. Exports to South America (780 mt, -51%) were below year-ago levels, brought upon by lower year-over-year exports to Chile (330 mt, -56%), Colombia (250 mt, -53%), and Peru (130 mt, -42%). Exports to EU27 + UK (2,350 mt, +26%) were above year-ago levels and were at the highest level since September 2019. Exports to the Middle East (970 mt, -38%) were lower year-over-year.

April beef variety meat exports totaled 22,090 mt, down 5% or -1,264 mt from last year. Exports were higher than last year to Mexico (+770 mt), Korea (+720 mt), Africa (+540 mt), South America (+230 mt), and Caribbean + DR (+110 mt). Exports were lower to China/HK (-1,630 mt), Japan (-720 mt), Middle East (-590 mt), ASEAN (-400 mt), Canada (-290 mt), and Central America (-30 mt). Exports to Mexico (7,380 mt, +12%) were higher year-over-year, while exports to Canada (570 mt, -33%) were lower year-over-year. Exports to Korea (1,490 mt, +94%) were at the highest level since February 2020, while exports to the ASEAN (1,000 mt, -28%) were below year-ago levels, but were at the highest level since October. Exports to Japan (3,710 mt, -16%) were lower year-over-year and exports to China/HK (1,780 mt, -48%) were also lower year-over-year, with exports to China (960 mt, -63%) at the lowest level since October 2021 and exports to Hong Kong (820 mt, +1%) slightly above year-ago levels. Exports to South America (860 mt, +36%) were above year-ago levels for the fourth consecutive month, driven by exports to Peru (540 mt, up significantly). Exports to Central America (290 mt, -9%) were lower year-over-year, while exports to the Caribbean + DR (410 mt, +37%) were above year-ago levels. Exports to South Africa (1,370 mt, +96%) were above year-ago levels for the fourth consecutive month. Exports to Egypt (2,890 mt, -17%) were below year-ago levels.

January – April beef muscle cut + beef variety meat exports totaled 437,910 mt, down 8% or -40,350 mt from last year. Exports were higher to Mexico (+8,110 mt), Africa (+3,620 mt), EU27 + UK (+860 mt), and Caribbean + DR (+650 mt). Exports were lower to Korea (-9,950 mt), Japan (-9,770 mt), Middle East (-9,340 mt), China/HK (-9,020 mt), Taiwan (-5,530 mt), ASEAN (-5,110 mt), Canada (-2,680 mt), South America (-1,360 mt), and Central America (-750 mt).

April 2023 beef exports accounted for 13.5% of production and 15.7% when adding variety meats, compared to 13.6% and 15.6% in April 2022. January – April 2023 beef exports accounted for 12.2% of production and 14.4% when adding variety meats, compared to 12.8% and 15.0% for January – April 2022. 

April 2023 beef export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $441.70/head, down 10% or -$47.89/head from $489.59/head in April 2022.  January – April 2023 beef export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $389.53/head, down 19% or -$88.51/head from $478.03/head for January – April 2022. 

Source: USMEF