USMEF Highlights Resilience in U.S. Red Meat Exports Despite Global Challenges

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) reports that while the U.S. red meat export market faces persistent challenges, demand remains robust, especially for pork, which has seen record-breaking exports this year.

Dan Halstrom, CEO of USMEF, shared insights on the resilience of the beef and pork export sectors in the face of various obstacles, particularly in major markets like Asia and Mexico.

“The last year’s strong U.S. dollar, which is even stronger after Trump’s victory, especially in Asia and Mexico,” Halstrom explained. This economic shift has increased the cost of U.S. meat for international buyers, adding complexity to trade relations.

Additionally, political transitions in key markets have created further uncertainties. “A lot of our trading partners have had presidential elections as well in the last year,” Halstrom noted, highlighting recent elections in Mexico under the Sheinbaum administration and an upcoming Prime Minister’s vote in Japan.

Despite these factors, U.S. pork exports have surged, outpacing last year’s volume by 5% and increasing in value by 7%. Beef exports have also shown strength, with a 5% increase in value, though volume has seen a slight dip of 2%.

Halstrom praised the steady demand, especially given predictions last year that export volumes might fall by as much as 15%. “Record-breaking in a case of pork, and in the case of beef, resilient, I think is the right word,” he stated.

The export industry’s adaptation to global fluctuations reflects a strong commitment to maintaining market presence and competitiveness.

Halstrom’s comments underscore the importance of the global market for U.S. livestock producers and highlight how the industry continues to navigate headwinds successfully.

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