US beef exports below record-large, year-ago totals - USMEF
Beef exports are down 14% from the May 2022While well below the record-large volume and value posted in May 2022, beef exports improved from April and were the second largest (behind March) of 2023, according to data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF.
While well below the record-large volume and value posted in May 2022, beef exports improved from April and were the second largest (behind March) of 2023.
Beef exports totalled 116,159 mt, down 14% from the May 2022 record but up 4% from the previous month. Export value was $874.7 million, down 19% year-over-year but 2% above April. For January through May, beef exports were down 10% to 554,069 mt, valued at $4.09 billion (down 21%).
“US beef exports face considerable headwinds in 2023, on both the supply and demand side, especially when compared to last year’s massive totals,” explained Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO. “To address tighter beef supplies, USMEF has heightened efforts to showcase underutilized cuts, even in our well-established markets. It’s also encouraging to see beef variety meat exports maintain a strong pace, as this is essential for maximizing carcass value.”