– Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
It’s a unique time in global beef markets with a wide range of issues providing challenges and opportunities among many of the major beef exporting countries. USDA-FAS (Foreign Agricultural Service) estimates published in April project the top five beef exporting countries in 2017, in order, as India, Brazil, Australia, the U.S. and New Zealand. These five countries were projected to export a total of 6.83 million metric tons of beef, about 71 percent of the total among major world beef exporters. Recent and ongoing developments may modify these forecasts.
India is currently projected to be the top beef exporting country with a 2017 forecast total of 1.85 million metric tons of mostly carabeef (water buffalo) exports. Beef exports from India have grown sharply in the past eight years. However, the beef industry in India is mostly operated by Muslim companies which are increasingly in conflict with the Hindu dominated federal government and also in some Indian states. A recent federal ban on trade of cattle for slaughter has raised concerns about India’s ability to maintain supplies of beef for export in 2017.
Brazil, the number two beef exporting country, is projected to export 1.80 million metric tons in 2017. However, Brazil has been rocked recently by several scandals including a food safety bribery scandal involving several meat companies and a financial and political bribery scandal involving JBS, the world’s largest meat company. It is not clear how much impact these scandals might have on total beef exports from Brazil in in 2017 but any impact will likely be negative.
Australia has dropped to third place among beef exporting countries with a projected 2017 export total of 1.4 million metric tons. Australia is beginning recovery from a serious drought that forced cattle herd liquidation and temporarily swelled beef production and exports in 2014 and 2015. The resulting diminished herd inventories resulted in reduced beef production and exports in 2016 and continues to restrict beef volumes in 2017. Herd rebuilding is beginning in 2017 but will take some time. Australia is seeing reduced beef exports to all its major markets including Japan, the U.S., South Korea and China.
The U.S. is the fourth largest beef exporting country with a 2017 forecast total of 1.236 million metric tons. Growing beef production beginning in 2016 along with lower beef prices helped the U.S. to see expanded beef exports in 2016 with additional export growth projected in 2017. The U.S. is in a unique temporary position to increase global market share in major export markets given the disruptions and uncertainty among other major beef exporters. The long anticipated opening of China to U.S. beef will provide an opportunity for U.S. beef exports to grow significantly over time. However, nervousness continues in the U.S. beef industry with the possibility of disrupting NAFTA trade on the North American continent. Trade policy uncertainty continues to hang over the U.S. cattle and beef industry even as market conditions support expanded beef exports.
The number five beef exporting country is New Zealand with a projected 2017 export total of 545 thousand metric tons. New Zealand is also experiencing reduced production and herd rebuilding which is expected to restrict total beef exports in 2017. However, New Zealand is working to expand market share in China with a new agreement that allows for chilled beef exports in addition to frozen beef exports to China.
Rounding out the top ten beef exporting countries (2017 export forecasts, thousand metric tons) are Canada (450); Uruguay (430); Paraguay (380); European Union (355); and Mexico (290).