Update on U.S. Beef Export Results

At last week's Cattle Industry Annual Convention U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Philip Seng shared the following with member so the Export Growth Committee.

Seng: "Our exports to Japan were up 24 percent this year. Japan has the world's highest duties — 38 and 1/2 percent. As a result of the Australia's EPA — their Economic Partnership Agreement — we're indexed at 38 and 1/2 percent and Australia is indexed at 28 and 1/2 percent so that is a big difference but we are overcoming that."

Over all U.S. beef exports increased 11 percent in volume and 1 percent in value from 2015. Exports accounted for 13.7 percent of total beef production in 2016 and 20.5 percent for muscle cuts — up from 13.1 percent and 10 percent, respectively in 2015. Seng continues with more details about beef exports to South Korea.

 

Seng: "Its very encouraging what the Korean market has done. We're up 38 percent in Korea this year. Contrary to what we have with the situation with Japan, about seven years ago we concluded the U.S.-Korean Trade Agreement so we have the lowest duty shipping beef into Korea. So this does make a difference as this has advantaged us quite dramatically. Another market that has been very good to us is Taiwan. We're up basically about 24 percent on our exports. It doesn't have the population base of Japan or Korea, but we are very encouraged by Tawan.

Seng thanked producers for their support of international marketing efforts for U.S. beef, and urged them to remain strong advocates for global trade.