U.S. Beef Imports Hit 1.7 Billion Pounds in Q1 as Exports Fall 18%

6 articles · Updated · RFD-TV · May 13

1.7 billion pounds of beef entered the U.S. in the first quarter, up more than 15% from a year earlier, while exports dropped to 586 million pounds.
Tight U.S. cattle supplies and high domestic beef prices drove the shift, making foreign beef more attractive and U.S. shipments less competitive abroad.
China accounted for the sharpest export collapse, with U.S. beef shipments there plunging 95% to 5.3 million pounds; sales to South Korea and Japan also declined even though they still took nearly half of exports.
Brazil supplied the most imported beef at 394 million pounds, ahead of Australia at 334 million, while Mexico rose 23% to 197 million pounds amid higher production and a feeder-cattle border closure.
USDA already expects another annual import record in 2026, a trend likely to pressure lean-trimming and cull-cow values even as the tight herd supports broader cattle prices.

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