US beef exports shatter records in 2021
Full-year figures for beef exports from the US in 2021 show a shattering of previous records for volume and for value.
The US Department of Agriculture has released figures, compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), that show a total volume of beef exports last year of 1.44 million tonnes. This figure indicates growth of 15% year on year, but it is also the highest on record, beating the previous record, from 2018, by 7%.
In terms of value, US beef brought in export revenues of nearly $10.6 billion. This, too, is a record, and 2021 was the first year ever in which US beef brought in more than $10 billion.
The figure is 38% up year on year and smashes the previous record, again from 2018, by 27%.
Beef exports to Korea, Japan and China each exceeded $2 billion, setting new volume and value records in Korea and China, and a value record in Japan. Exports also set a new value record in Taiwan and reached new heights in Central America, Colombia and Indonesia.
USMEF chief executive, Dan Halstrom, said: “The beef export results are truly remarkable, especially considering covid-related obstacles and all the supply-side and logistical challenges faced by the US industry.”
