A strong performance by the top three international markets kept US beef exports on an upward path in August, according to statistics released by the US Department of Agriculture.

Beef sales to Japan, Mexico and Canada all posted solid gains along with a resurgent Taiwan market as overall beef exports grew 5% in volume and 16% in value compared to year-ago levels, reaching 105,544 metric tons valued at $563.3 million.

For the first eight months of 2012, beef exports are up 1% in volume and 10% in value to 767,017 metric tons valued at $4.01 billion.

The continued absence of the Russian market – closed to US beef since February – continues to hinder exports. Excluding Russia, beef exports are up 8% in volume and 16% in value.

“Challenges appear in many forms, including market closures and disruptions, international competition and product oversupply,” said Philip Seng, CEO of the US Meat Export Federation. “For example, while the US has enjoyed impressive growth in beef exports to Hong Kong, we remain locked out of the fastest-growing beef market in the world – China. And pressure from our international competitors is a significant factor in other markets.”

For the year, US lamb exports are up 3% in volume (8,956 metric tons) and 13% in value ($19.6 million) despite a sluggish August. For the month, exports slipped 45% in volume (779 metric tons) and 30% in value ($1.9 million). Top international markets Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean all posted double-digit declines.

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