Costco Expansion Means Good News for U.S. Beef

After a sluggish start ten years ago, it appears U.S. beef is building momentum in South Korea.  Costco recently announced it was converting its imported chilled beef selection from Australian beef to 100% U.S. product.  Costco’s move means a potential increase of roughly 15,000 metric tons.  This comes off of a hot 2016, where U.S. beef topped the $1 billion mark to Korea for the first time ever.

Joel Haggard, U.S. Meat Export Federation senior vice president said it’s hard to believe in the past decade Korean consumers have gone from protesting American beef, to demanding it.

“Over the last ten years, account by account, the U.S. has clawed its way back, helped by significant investment in the U.S Beef industry investment, in a succession of campaigns that have helped restore consumer confidence.”

USMEF added customers will find a wide selection of U.S. beef cuts, from short ribs, chuck rolls and high-end middle meats, at the current 13 Costco locations, and soon to be 15 locations across South Korea.

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