ANALYSIS: 1H 2024 in Review, Australia’s Beef Industry Navigates Surge in US Exports 

For a relatively small, cattle producing country, Australian beef is heavily traded. In fact, it's on the podium for one of the world's most traded this year. Australia's beef industry in the first half of 2024 has navigated a dynamic landscape reshaped by global market shifts and regional challenges. This period has been marked by significant export expansions to the world’s largest beef market, the US. Despite facing challenges in Asian markets due to evolving consumer demand dynamics, Australia continued to position...

Monthly Import Cargo Continues to Rise Despite Supply Chain Challenges

Monthly inbound cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports is continuing to rise despite a variety of supply chain challenges, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Lulls between supply chain challenges seldom last long, and importers are currently looking at issues including high shipping rates, unresolved port labor negotiations and continuing capacity and congestion issues from the ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said...

Meat Institute Opposes Section 301 Tariffs; Calls for Comprehensive Trade Agreements

In comments submitted to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) opposing the proposed modifications to the Section 301 actions, the Meat Institute called for comprehensive trade agreements as a long-term strategy to level the playing field for meat and poultry companies and to hold China accountable for its actions.

“The Section 301 tariffs and resulting retaliatory measures imposed by China have caused undue harm to U.S. agricultural exports, including meat exports. U.S. trade policy, such as the one proposed in this Section 301 action, should not inflict pain...

Trade Barriers Removed from Exports of French and Irish Beef to Republic of Korea

French and Irish beef producers will once again be able to export beef to the Republic of Korea, thanks to the European Commission’s efforts to negotiate the removal of local restrictions on EU beef.

In a significant development for the European beef industry, the Republic of Korea has officially opened market access for beef from France and Ireland. This positive result follows consistent representations made by the Commission, including through direct outreach by Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis...

ANALYSIS: Brazil's Beef Exports Reach Record Highs in May, China's Shares Decline

Brazil has achieved a historical record in beef exports as of May 2024, exporting an unprecedented 211,976 MT of beef. This represents an increase of 1.9% from the previous month and a surged 25.9% when compared to the same period last year. On a YTD basis, the total volume is up by 16.7%.

China remains the leading importer, purchasing 97,876 MT of Brazilian beef in May. However, this figure is slightly lower than April's 101,023 MT ,a 3.1% decrease,  and corresponds to an 11.8% decline compared...

Cleveland-Cliffs to Idle Weirton Tinplate Facility Following Unfavorable ITC Ruling

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. announced today that it will be indefinitely idling its tinplate production plant located in Weirton, West Virginia in April 2024. The need to idle the Weirton plant is a direct result of the unanimous decision issued by all four members of the International Trade Commission (ITC) negating the implementation of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on tin mill products calculated by the Department of Commerce. A WARN notice is being issued today to approximately 900 impacted employees...

Another Record Month for Pork Exports to Mexico; Beef Exports Show Modest Rebound

U.S. pork exports posted another strong performance in October, led by record-large shipments to Mexico and broad-based growth elsewhere, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). October beef exports remained well below last year’s large totals but improved from September, led by stronger demand in Mexico and Taiwan.

October pork exports totaled 245,345 metric tons (mt), up 3% year-over-year and the largest since June, valued at $688.2 million – down 2% from a year ago....

USDA Announces Planned Trade Missions for 2024

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced next steps in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to bolster U.S. agricultural trade, including the department’s planned trade missions for 2024 and the opening of a public comment period for the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). These efforts will help to support further growth in U.S. agricultural exports and introduce high-quality U.S. agricultural products to new markets.

“Market diversification is an important tool for maximizing growth opportunities for U.S. agriculture, as well as hedging...

Import Cargo Slowing Along with Spending Growth

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports has already hit its expected peak for the year and should gradually slow headed into the holiday season, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Cargo volumes will still be strong the rest of the year, but not as high as we expected a month ago,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Retailers stocked up early this year as a safeguard against supply chain labor issues and are...

TMF at Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to Increase 4% on November 1, 2023

The West Coast MTO Agreement (WCMTOA) today announced that on November 1, 2023, the Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will increase by 4%. The adjustment matches the combined 4% increase in longshore wage and assessment rates recently ratified in the coastwide contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association.

Beginning November 1, the TMF will be $35.57 per TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) or $71.14 per forty-foot container...

USMEF Partners with Chilean Importer to Grow its Portfolio of U.S. Pork Cuts

To address reduced U.S. pork sales with a major importer in Chile, USMEF South American Representative Jessica Julca worked with the importer to develop a client database to segment its customers based on their purchasing patterns and potential needs.

“El Carnicero used to import several cuts of U.S. pork but with greater availability from competitors, they were down to importing one U.S. cut,” says Julca. “The database contains purchasing data for 211 of its customers and helps them to identify loyal customers and market opportunities...

Partnerships Key to Market Development Efforts for U.S. Pork Loin in Peru

U.S. industry partnerships are behind a U.S. pork loin initiative with a major importer in Peru. Critical to the success of this initiative were technical cutting demonstrations performed for importers last year by Dr. David Newman, senior vice president for market growth for the National Pork Board (NPB) and a past member of USMEF’s executive committee.

During a USMEF-led, NPB team visit last year, Dr. Newman conducted a pork fabrication seminar for Peruvian importers to demonstrate new ideas for...