June U.S. Beef Exports and Imports Were Up

According to the recent monthly trade data, U.S. exports of beef and veal in June posted the largest volume traded since the discovery of a BSE cow in the state of Washington in late 2003.  However, U.S. beef and veal exports remained well below pre-BSE volumes.  U.S. imports of beef and veal were well above a year ago in June, as imported beef tonnage was the largest since the monthly trade series began in 1988.

In June, imports of beef and veal totaled 378 million pounds (carcass weight basis), 7.5 percent or 26.5 million pounds larger than a year ago and 38 percent above the prior five-year average.  Imports from Uruguay were up 37 percent from 2004, followed by Canada (up 10 percent) and Australia (up 7 percent).  For the first six months of the year, U.S. beef import tonnage totaled 1.9 billion pounds, 5 percent above the same period in 2004. 

U.S. exports of beef and veal totaled 75.6 million pounds (carcass weight basis) in June compared to 46.6 million pounds last year, but still trailed the 258.6 million pounds reported in June 2003.  On a per country basis, exports to Canada and Mexico were nearly 30 percent larger than a year ago. 

U.S. imports of feeder cattle from Mexico in June totaled 72,496 head, notably smaller than last year (down 29 percent), but not unexpected given the normal seasonal decline.  Feeder cattle imports through June of this year totaled 685,000 head, about 59,000 head more than the respective six-month period a year ago. 

Imports of live feeder and slaughter cattle from Canada resumed in late July but have been at fairly low levels due to a number of market and management factors.   According to the weekly trade data reported by USDA, as of week ending August 13, U.S. feeder cattle imports from Canada in August totaled 13,760 head while slaughter cattle imports were just over 14,800 head.  Live animal imports are well below the weekly volumes reported in August 2002 prior to the closure of the border but should increase some as the fall quarter approaches. 

Source:  Livestock Marketing Information Center