BUILDING DEMAND 
MARKET BY MARKET
Through Beef Checkoff-funded foreign 
marketing efforts, the U.S. Meat 
Export Federation (USMEF) works in 
key international markets to build 
relationships, identify opportunities  
and position U.S. beef with buyers 
who value its quality. The goal is 
straightforward: move each beef cut  
or variety meat item to the market  
where it brings the strongest value.
In many cases, that market is here at 
home. But international customers  
are often willing to pay more for some  
cuts and variety meats because those  
products fit their food culture, menus  
and consumer demand.
ADDING VALUE 
That matters to producers because  
export value is reflected in the overall 
value of fed cattle. In 2025, U.S. beef 
export value equated to $391.94 per  
head of fed slaughter. While that was  
down from the year before due largely to 
limited access to China for much of 2024, 
export value strengthened in early 2026. 
Through January-March, export value 
averaged $431.66 per head, up 2 percent 
from that period in 2025. In March, export 
value reached $456.56 per head, the 
highest monthly average in 12 months 1.
Today’s cattle market is being shaped by 
tight supplies, consistent beef demand 
and consumers who continue to pay for 
beef at higher prices. 
Exports are one part of that demand 
picture. They are not the only reason 
cattle prices are strong, but they help 
broaden demand for beef beyond what 
we sell here at home. That is especially 
important for cuts and variety meats that 
may not command the same value here 
in the states. When more parts of the 
carcass find customers who value them, 
exports help support the overall value of 
the animal — and that contributes to a 
stronger demand base for beef.
VARIETY MEATS ARE A BRIGHT SPOT
One of the clearest examples of export 
value is beef variety meats, such as liver, 
heart, tongue, kidneys, tripe and more. 
These products often command limited 
value in the domestic market, but in many 
countries, they are in strong demand. 
In 2025, beef variety meat  
exports equated to 25 pounds  
per head of fed slaughter, valued 
at more than $45 per head. 
Tongue exports alone accounted  
for more than $15 per head, with tripe, 
livers and lips adding additional value1. 
Variety meats like beef tongues and livers 
have been a major bright spot, with export 
value setting a monthly record in December 
2025, then topping that mark again in 
January and March. In March, beef variety 
meat export value reached $135.6 million, 
up 50 percent year-over-year. March 
volume reached 29,062 metric tons, the 
largest monthly total in nine years1.
MATCHING THE CUT TO THE MARKET
Different markets value different parts 
of the animal. In Japan, beef tongues are 
highly valued. In Japan and Korea, thinly 
sliced short plate is used in beef bowls,  
hot pot and tabletop grilling. Egypt is 
a market for livers, and Mexico is an 
important destination for many round  
and chuck cuts as well as variety meats. 
Those differences help U.S. beef compete 
globally. While U.S. beef is often higher 
priced than beef from other exporting 
countries, international customers continue 
to value its taste, quality and consistency. 
That premium position helps create 
demand beyond commodity pricing alone.
OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD
Looking ahead, established markets 
like Korea, Japan and Taiwan remain 
priorities, while improved access in 
the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia 
creates new opportunities. If U.S. beef 
regains access in the Chinese market, 
recapturing market share in China will also 
be a major focus. Africa also represents 
a long-term growth opportunity that will 
require steady market development.
BRINGING IT BACK  
TO THE PRODUCERS
Exports are not a replacement for  
strong domestic demand. They are an 
additional way to strengthen the value 
of U.S. beef by matching more cuts and 
variety meats with the customers who 
value them most. From tongues in Japan 
to short plate in Korea and livers in Egypt, 
global demand helps make more out of 
every carcass. Demand does not stop 
at our borders — and neither does the 
opportunity to bring more value back  
to U.S. cattle producers. 
Beef Finds Value Around the World  
C O N T I N U E D  F R O M  C O V E R
Sources:
1 – Data provided by the U.S. Meat Export Federation  
2 – U.S. government statistics compiled by the U.S. Meat Export 
Federation, “Total U.S. Beef Exports, 2016-2025.” 
Top 2025 U.S. Beef 
Export Markets2
Volume
(Metric Tons)
Value
($Millions)
JAPAN
237,975
1.760
SOUTH KOREA
232,175
2.231
MEXICO
209,094
1.302
China/Hong Kong
111,312
977
CANADA
96,291
874
TAIWAN
58,714
668

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