U.S. beef exports showed signs of recovery in October, posting their strongest monthly volumes since early summer, even as the market remained effectively closed to China.
Data released by the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture show October beef exports totaled 93,448 metric tonnes (mt). While shipments were still down 11 percent from a year earlier, volume increased 16 percent from September and marked the largest total since June.
Export value followed a similar trend. October beef exports were valued at $759.5 million, down 12 percent year-over-year but up 15 percent from September, also the highest level since June.
Performance improves outside China
Markets excluding China provided the most consistent support for October beef exports. When China is removed from the data, October beef exports increased five percent year-over-year in volume and seven percent in value.
Japan remained the leading destination by volume. October shipments to Japan reached 19,734 mt, up 17 percent from a year earlier, while export value rose 16 percent to $149.8 million. Beef variety meat shipments, including tongues and skirts, accounted for a notable share of the increase.
Exports to Taiwan also rebounded in October. Shipments totaled 5,475 mt, the second-highest monthly volume of 2025 and the largest since June. Volume was up 41 percent from October 2024, while value increased 16 percent to $56.2 million.
Canada provided additional support. October exports to Canada reached 9,392 mt, up 23 percent year-over-year, with export value climbing 37 percent to $83.3 million. This marked the strongest value performance since June.
Gains offset by lack of access to China
Despite gains across several regions, restricted access to China continued to weigh heavily on overall export totals. October beef shipments to China totaled just 584 mt, down 97 percent from a year earlier. Export value fell 98 percent to $3.3 million.
For the first 10 months of 2025, beef exports to China totaled 57,634 mt, down 61 percent from the same period in 2024. Export value declined 63 percent to $490 million over that span.
Year-to-date results highlight the impact of China’s absence. From January through October, total U.S. beef exports reached 949,471 mt, down 11 percent from the 2024 pace. Export value fell 10 percent to $7.79 billion. However, when China is excluded, exports were down just three percent in volume and one percent in value.
Regional bright spots emerge
Several smaller but growing markets also posted encouraging results. Exports to the Caribbean increased five percent year-over-year in October, while export value surged 22 percent to $27.5 million, the highest level since May.
South America showed significant improvement, led by Colombia. October exports to the region were steady in volume at 1,527 mt, but value jumped 80 percent to $17.5 million. Shipments to Colombia increased 141 percent in volume and nearly quadrupled in value following the lifting of avian influenza-related import restrictions earlier in the year.
In Central America, October export volumes declined modestly, but export value increased 26 percent. With two months remaining in the year, export value to the region has already surpassed the full-year record set in 2024.
Export value per head trends lower
October beef export value averaged $364.78 per head of fed cattle slaughter, down four percent from a year earlier. The January–October average stood at $390.28 per head, down five percent from 2024.
Exports accounted for 11.7 percent of total October beef production and 9.1 percent of muscle cut production. Both figures declined from year-earlier levels, reflecting tighter supplies and ongoing market access challenges.
While access to China remains the largest unresolved issue, October results suggest demand in other global markets continues to provide support for U.S. beef exports as the year progresses.
