U.S. beef exports climbed 4% year over year in August to 86,362 metric tons, with export value jumping 13% to $785.9 million, according to USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork moved the other way: shipments fell 6% to 222,243 mt and value dropped 12% to $606.3 million, weighed down by a sharp decline in exports to Mexico versus the large totals posted in August 2025.

Near-record volume in Taiwan and a rebound in South Korea drove the beef gains. Exports also trended higher to the Middle East, the ASEAN region, Colombia and Cote d'Ivoire, while volumes held steady to Mexico and Central America. Japan and the Caribbean paid more per ton despite lower volumes. Shipments to China topped last year's minimal total but continued to face technical trade barriers.

USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom said the Korea rebound matched expectations: "USMEF expected to see stronger beef exports to Korea in the second half of the year, as reflected in the August data. And I cannot say enough about the outstanding demand in Taiwan, which has truly been a star performer for U.S. beef in 2026."

Why is China still a fraction of its potential?

Halstrom pointed to a competitive opening that U.S. exporters cannot yet exploit. Australian beef has faced a 55% safeguard tariff since June 20, yet U.S. volumes have not responded.

"The August increase is just a fraction of what would be possible in that market," Halstrom said. "But China still needs to relist suspended facilities, and the U.S. industry needs further clarity on technical requirements before beef exports to China will significantly rebound."

For January through August, beef exports totaled 721,150 mt, down 7% in volume, while value of $6.32 billion sat just 1% below a year ago. The gap traces almost entirely to China, where access obstacles began heavily impacting U.S. exports after the early months of 2025. Excluding China from the eight-month results, beef volume was down only 1% while value ran 6% higher.

What pulled pork exports lower?

Mexico accounted for most of the August decline. Domestic pork production in Mexico has rebounded, and demand for hams has softened in recent months. Pseudorabies-related restrictions heavily limited U.S. pork variety meat shipments from May through July, and demand for muscle cuts has weakened in recent weeks.

August shipments did rise to Central America, Colombia and the Caribbean — growth markets running at a record pace in 2026 — but gains there were offset by lower volumes to Mexico, Japan, Korea, China, Oceania and the ASEAN region.

"U.S. pork has had a remarkable run in Mexico," Halstrom said. "These trends really underscore the importance of market diversification and illustrate why the U.S. industry is constantly working to identify and develop additional destinations for U.S. pork."

Those diversification efforts, he added, are "paying tremendous dividends in markets like Colombia, Central America and the Dominican Republic."

Eight-month pork exports held 1% above last year at 1.95 million mt, with value steady at $5.47 billion. Against the record pace of 2024, volume was down 2% and value down 4%.

Lamb closed out the August picture with the weakest month of the year. Muscle cut exports fell 41% to 129 mt — the lowest total of 2026 — even with larger shipments to Mexico and the Netherlands Antilles, as volumes slowed to the Bahamas and Leeward-Windward Islands. August lamb value dropped 29% to just over $900,000. For January through August, lamb muscle cut exports of 1,827 mt were down 11% in volume but 1% higher in value at just under $11 million.

USMEF has posted a detailed market-by-market summary of the January-August results on its website. The next test for beef exporters is whether China relists suspended facilities and clarifies technical requirements, the step Halstrom identifies as the precondition for any significant rebound.