U.S. meat exports continue to decline in May amid trade tensions with China

U.S. pork and beef exports showed a downward trend in May, primarily due to a sharp decline in shipments to CHINA , according to data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and compiled by the U.S. MEAT EXPORT Federation (USMEF).

In April and the first half of May, China’s overall tariff on U.S. pork peaked at 172 percent, while that on beef peaked at 147 percent. Even after a joint announcement on May 14 to temporarily reduce tariffs for 90 days, Chinese tariffs remain at 57 percent for pork and 32 percent for beef. Moreover, most of the beef is not exported because China has not renewed expired registrations for meat processing plants and cold storage facilities since February.

“The situation with China has clearly had a significant impact on May exports, highlighting the importance of diversification and continuing to develop alternative markets,” said Dan Hallstrom, president and CEO of USMEF. “There is a pressing need to advance U.S.-China trade negotiations as tariffs could rise again on August 12. That deadline is already influencing exporters’ decisions on whether to continue producing for the Chinese market. The silver lining is that despite all of this uncertainty, demand for U.S. red meat remains strong in many key markets.”

Thus, the total volume of pork exports in May was 224,162 tons, down 11% from a year earlier, and the value fell 10% to $646.5 million. Shipments to Mexico, Central America and Colombia increased compared to last year, reaching a record level for Cuba. Pork exports to all these markets reached record rates in 2025.

Pork exports to China, led by beef, fell to just 6,720 tonnes in May, down 82% from a year earlier, while the value fell 77% to US$20.7 million.

In the first five months of the year, pork exports fell 6% in volume (1.22 million tons) and 5% in value ($3.43 billion) from the record pace of 2024 .

In May, beef sales totaled 97,266 tonnes, down 12% and the lowest in nearly five years. Export value was US$798.7 million, down 11.5% and the lowest in 18 months. However, exports to SOUTH KOREA, the main market, were exceptional, with monthly shipments reaching their highest in more than two years and value at their highest in nearly three years. Beef exports to Central and South America, the Dominican Republic, the United Arab Emirates and Africa also showed year-on-year growth in May.

Beef exports to China fell sharply in May to just under 1,400 tonnes, down 91% from a year earlier. The value of exports fell 90% to less than $15 million.

Beef exports from January to May fell 5% year-on-year to 508,293 tonnes, with value down 3% to $4.15 billion.