US Beef Shines in Korea’s Booming Home Meal Replacement Sector

Fueled by inflation and the rise in single-person households, Korea’s home meal replacement (HMR) industry continues expanding, having nearly doubled in size over the past decade. High-quality U.S. beef has successfully penetrated this product category through new product development and promotional partnerships with Korean importers, processors, restaurants and retailers.

One such partnership is with Samihun, a prestigious barbecue restaurant brand widely recognized as a market leader in the HMR sector. Renowned for its top-selling galbitang (beef rib soup) and marinated beef barbecue, Samihun utilizes high-quality U.S....

ANALYSIS: Australia’s May 2026 Beef Exports Smash Records Before Safeguard Windows Slam Shut

Australia’s outbound beef shipping momentum shattered all historical precedents in May 2026, with total export volumes skyrocketing to an all-time record high of 152,438 metric tons (MT), according to the latest trade data from Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

This performance officially surpassed the previous all-time record high of 150,435 MT set in July 2025 by exactly 2,003 MT.

The DAFF figures showed that May volumes surged 8.2% month-on-month (MOM), adding an extra 11,495 MT over April's shipments...

ANALYSIS: Korea’s Australian Beef Safeguard Quota Hits 75% Threshold

Australian beef imports have exhausted three-quarters of the 2026 Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) safeguard quota, according to Korea Customs Service data.

As of May 15, approximately 48,635 metric tons (MT) remain available at the preferential 5.3% tariff rate.

The drawdown has maintained high velocity throughout the first quarter. Korea’s customs data showed that the end of March 2026 consumed 59.64% of Australia’s 2026 allocation...

ANALYSIS: Korea’s Q1 2026 Beef Imports Surge 16.7% YOY on Lower Production

Korea’s total beef imports for the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 reached 165,683 metric tons (MT), representing a 16.7% year-on-year (YOY) increase, according to data from Korea Customs Service.

This robust performance indicated that Q1 2026 continues to ride the momentum from the 2025 recovery, which saw imports surge to reverse a four-year...

ANALYSIS: Korea’s 2026 KAFTA Quota Drawdown Accelerates as Australian Beef Flows Surge

While China’s safeguard has dominated headlines for weeks, Korea’s safeguard quota for Australian beef is quietly racing toward early exhaustion.

Korea’s customs import data showed that January 2026 alone consumed 23.6% of Australia’s 2026 allocation. By February 19, 45.42% of the allocation had already been used, leaving 107,005 metric tons (MT) remaining.

Korea’s Special Agricultural Safeguards (SSG) under the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) is set at 196,050 MT for 2026, with the in-quota tariff reduced 2.7 percentage points from last year to 5.3%...

ANALYSIS: Solid Start to 2026 as Australia’s January Beef Exports Soar

Australia kicks off 2026 with an in-month record January beef exports of 84,343 mt metric tons (mt), according to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

January has historically been a softer month, with holiday closures and weather disruptions curbing export volumes. Lunar New Year preparations normally weigh on trade, but this year’s mid-February festivities pushed back logistical hurdles, leaving January’s decline milder than expected.

Outbound volumes fell 42.8% month-on-month (MOM) by 63,189 mt but rose 4.1% higher year-on-year (YOY)...

ANALYSIS: Growing Demand Lifts Korea’s Total Beef Imports 1.5% YOY in 2025

Korea's total beef imports in 2025 rose by 1.5% from a year ago to 468,122 metric tons (mt), according to the Korea Customs Service.

The world’s fourth-largest beef importer reversed its 2024 slump with annual imports rising by 7,094 mt year-on-year (YOY).

The recovery was driven by weaker domestic Hanwoo production and a demand boost from the government’s "livelihood recovery consumption coupon" program, launched on July 21, which lifted household beef purchases...

ANALYSIS: Korea’s Nov 2025 Beef Imports Mark a Third Monthly Drop as Safeguard Caps Tighten

Korea’s beef imports in November 2025 fell for the third consecutive month at 26,211 metric tons (mt), according to data from the Korea Customs Service.

Falling 15.6% month-on-month (MOM), the 4,857 mt drop followed the activation of Special Agricultural Safeguards on Australian beef on September 12 which curbed inflows. Compared with a year earlier, shipments were down 20.9% or 6,906 mt.

Until 31 December 2025, beef imports from Australia face an ad-valorem Most Favored Nations (MFN) rate of 24.0%...

ANALYSIS: New Zealand’s Aug 2025 Beef Exports Retreat to 29,805 mt on Low Output

New Zealand’s beef exports in August 2025 fell for the third straight month, coming in at 29,805 metric tons (mt), according to the latest data from Stats NZ.

Falling to the lowest level since October 2024, outbound shipments were 19.5% lower, or 7,218 mt compared to July 2025 across all key destinations including the United States (US), China, Japan and Korea, while shipments to Canada increased...

ANALYSIS: Australia Drives Korea’s August 2025 Beef Imports to Seven-Month Peak

Korea’s August 2025 beef imports rose for the second consecutive month, reaching 47,475 metric tons (mt), the highest level since January 2025, data from Korea Customs Service showed.

Rising 8.8% month-on-month (MoM), imports increased by 3,841 mt, led by higher volumes from the United States (US) and Australia. Fimer volumes from Canada contributed to the increase, while shipments from New Zealand were broadly stable compared with the prior month, tempering overall growth...

ANALYSIS: Korea’s July 2025 Beef Imports Post to 7-Month Highs at 43,634 MT

Korea’s July 2025 beef imports soared to the highest level since January 2025, rising 12.5% month-on-month (MOM) to 43,634 metric tons (mt), according to the latest data from Korea Customs Service.

The 4,843 mt increment was led by by higher inbound volumes from its two key suppliers, the United States (US) and Australia, but a dip from New Zealand capped further gains.

Year-on-year (YOY), volumes rose 13.1% or 5,058 mt as Asia’s largest beef consumer...

ANALYSIS: Australian Beef on Verge of Korea’s Safeguard Trigger, as 1H 2025 Imports Up 4.2% YOY

Korea’s beef safeguard on Australian imports is set to kick in weeks earlier than last year, as firmer buying in the first half of 2025 leaves little quota space before higher tariffs take effect.

Beef is Australia's biggest agricultural export to Korea. As of Aug. 11, Australia had filled 87.3% of its annual Special Agricultural Safeguards (SSG) limit, leaving 24,408 mt before hitting the ceiling, according to Korea Customs Service.

Most market players anticipated the safeguard would be triggered...