Despite Dip, November A Good Month Of U.S. Beef Industry

According to USDA numbers, November beef exports fell 19% year-over-year on volume.

Dan Halstrom, CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation said that drop from 2024 numbers was largely due to China's continued failure to renew U.S. beef plant registrations.  Despite that, Halstrom said there were still bright spots in those USDA numbers.

“Exports overall were steady to Japan. Japan's had several months in a row with very good results, once again, led by the variety meat side - tongue business, outside skirts, hanging tenders as well saw volumes that were up significantly,” he said.

Halstrom added when looking outside of Asia, there were other bright spots as well.

“Having just returned from Gulfood in Dubai, our business had a big month into the United Arab Emirates, and a year ago, we basically were delisted as a country due to some protocols around the import procedures with halal," Halstrom said.  "And that's all been worked out, and we're seeing some really good momentum back into, not only the UAE, but the business is booming in food service, especially into regions such as Egypt.”

On the pork side of things, Halstrom said exports remained relatively strong in November, despite a 7% year-over-year decrease.  Halstrom noted that drop was due to November 2024 being such a strong month of the U.S. pork sector.

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