– Josh Maples, Assistant Professor & Extension Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University
The latest beef trade numbers from USDA show a continuation of larger imports and softer exports than during 2024. This is the first monthly report to reflect impacts of the ongoing tariff discussions. On the live animal side, the data show smaller imports of cattle from Mexico prior to the recent border closure.
Beef exports totaled 237 million pounds in April—down 7 percent from March and down 9 percent from April 2024. Year-to-date exports are 4 percent lower than in 2024. The drop in exports to China was the most staggering – down 68 percent from a year ago. Exports to Hong Kong offset some of that decline, but combined shipments to the region were still cut in half. South Korea continued to be a bright spot, taking more U.S. beef than any other country and posting year-over-year growth. Japan also ticked higher in April.
U.S. beef imports hit 475 million pounds in April, down 5 percent from March but up 45 percent from April 2024. So far in 2025, imports are up 28 percent year-to-date as compared to January to April 2024. Brazil was the largest import source in April with shipments up over 300 percent from last April. Australia, Uruguay, and New Zealand also posted sizable gains. For our North American trading partners, imports from Canada were down 14 percent and imports from Mexico were down one percent from a year ago.
The international trade complex for beef is dynamic and responds to shifts in relative prices. Tight domestic supplies of beef production, strong domestic prices, and ongoing tariff discussions are all impacting the flow of beef to and from the U.S.
Also worth mentioning is the status of cattle imports from Mexico during April. Although the southern border is now closed to live animal imports due to New World Screwworm concerns, cattle were allowed to cross during April under stricter guidelines and limited locations. A total of 88 thousand head of cattle were imported from Mexico during April. This was a 59 percent decrease from a year ago. In total, 192 thousand head of cattle were imported from Mexico from January to April, this is down from 479 thousand during the first four months of 2024.
