Less American beef to Japan

US beef exports rose 3% to 118.677 tonnes in June compared to last year. The export value in that month amounted to $724,8 million (+1%), making it the fourth highest ever. However, in the first half of the year, exports fell by 2% to 648.765 tonnes. Exports in June were 15,4% of total beef production, which is almost 1 percentage point more than last year.

South Korea is closing in on Japan
Exports to Japan fell by 4% in June to 29.794 tonnes. This is partly due to a tariff disadvantage, given the various countries a new trade agreement have signed with Japan. The export value fell by 7% to $179 million (€159 million) in June. For the first half of the year, exports to Japan amounted to 157.839, which is 1% lower than last year in this period. In Canada, a country that signed a new deal, exports to Japan increased by 83%. According to analysts, this means that there are indeed opportunities in the country.

Number 2 is South Korea and that country is increasingly approaching Japan. In June, exports rose 2% to 25.118 tonnes, while the value rose 15% to a record $178,3 million. Due to the good results, exports increased by 12% in the first half of the year (to 126.879 tons) compared to last year. U.S. beef now accounts for 61% of total South Korean beef imports.

Taiwan imports more
It is striking that beef exports to Japan recorded a very strong increase in the second quarter. A new record was set in June, as exports increased by 40% to 6.654 tons. The value increased by 46% to the second highest level ever: $1 million. In the first half of the year, 58 tonnes were exported to the country, which is 31.132% more than last year's record level.

The Dominican Republic is also an important growth market for American beef. In the month of June, America exported 4.524 tons to the country, which is 57% more than last year. This has set a record level. The export value increased by 47% to $36,2 million.