ANALYSIS: US Beef and Veal Exports Hit 52-Week Low in Jan 2025 

According to the latest UDSA monthly beef and veal exports summary, US beef exports hit a 52-week low in January sending 104,414 metric tons (mt) of material overseas, which is down 13,000 mt month-over-month from December of 2024 (-11.1%).

The US exported 1.08M mt of beef in 2024, with the majority heading to Korea, Japan and China. As large consumers of beef cuts and boneless beef, much of what the...

ANALYSIS: Volume of Boneless Beef Hits 12-Month High in Latest USDA Cold Storage Report

According to the latest Cold Storage report from the United States Department of Agriculture, the total amount of beef in cold storage for the month of January was 463.3M lbs. Boneless beef accounted for 424.4M lbs (92% of total) while beef cuts made up the other 38.9M lbs. Both the figures for the total amount of beef and boneless beef equate to a 12-month high.

Cold storage is an important aspect for the imported boneless beef complex...

ANALYSIS: US Beef Impacts if 25% Tariff on Canada Resumes

On Monday, February 3, President Trump announced the postponement of a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, with the possibility of reinstating it in 30 days. This delay comes amid ongoing discussions and underscores the importance of Canada's longstanding trade relationship with the United States (US). Now, universal tariffs are under consideration for future trade action. Canada remains one of the US's largest trading partners, with trade agreements spanning decades, including the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Beef and live cattle...

ANALYSIS: The Price of Heavy Cutter Cows Increases for the Eighth Straight Week

The price of a cutter cow over 500 lbs continued its eight-week streak of increases, currently sitting at $2.38/lb. At the start of 2024 prices hovered around $1.85/lb marking a year-on-year increase of 28.65%. This uptick comes as cow slaughter levels began to decline in the second half of 2023, possibly signaling a retention period like the last one seen in 2016.

Within the past couple weeks, winter weather has been a...

ANALYSIS: US Imported Beef Prices Hold Firm in the New Year Despite Rising Imports

Prices for imported Australian/New Zealand (Aus/NZ) and Brazilian beef remained buoyant in January 2025, showing no signs of easing despite increased supply. Lower domestic production has caused some participants to seek alternatives in the imported market.

Since November 2024, Aus/NZ beef has experienced a $13/cwt increase, or roughly 5%, supported by the lowest US cattle numbers in decades. Drought conditions over the past two years have contributed to a significant decline in US cattle numbers, which are now at their lowest...

ANALYSIS: U.S. Imported Beef Least Cost Formulation Effects on Mixed Trimmings 85% in Fall 2024

Throughout the course of October, Aus/NZ MXT 85 on the spot market dropped in value by $18/cwt after trading at $289/cwt levels at the end of September. Entering November, the number was at $271/cwt and has remained generally steady at that mark.

End users of boneless beef trim typically use different lean percentage items to formulate their finished products. Given this flexibility, buyers can select from different trim options based on price and specific...

ANALYSIS: Uruguay’s Beef Exports See 11.3% Monthly Rise in October, Yet Decline 11.9% Y-o-Y

In October 2024, Uruguay’s fresh beef exports reached 28,512 MT, based on the latest data from the Uruguayan National Customs Directorate. This is 11.3% higher than the previous month and marks a 11.9% drop Y-o-Y. On a YTD basis, cumulative exports now stand at 292,422 MT, up by 2.2% compared to the same period last year. Uruguay’s annual performance indicates resilience in export volumes, with exporters adjusting destination strategies in response to fluctuating demand and price conditions...

ANALYSIS: Imported Boneless Beef Trimmings from Argentina to the U.S. Hit All-Time High

According to the latest Meat Passed for Entry Report issued by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released on November 1st, Argentina passed 2,019 MT of boneless trimmings into the United States on the week of October 21st. This marks a record high for Argentine imports to the United States. The last record high spike occurred in September of 2020 when 1,535 MT of boneless trimmings were imported from Argentina. Still, that is a 31.53% increase from the last spike to the most recent one... 

ANALYSIS: US Boneless Beef Imports from Australia Soar, Domestic and Import 90s Gap Grows

The week of October 7th experienced 6,045 MT of boneless beef that cleared for entry into the United States, marking a significant 52-week high. This represents an impressive year-over-year increase of 53.5%. Australia plays a key role in the boneless beef market, exporting lean boneless beef to various countries, with the U.S. accounting for 32.6% of their exports, equating to 37,218 MT in September alone.

Even with more meat available on the market, the price of Aus/NZ...

ANALYSIS: From Cutter Cow to Beef Fresh 90s Price Differences

While price is typically a function of quantity demanded or quantity supplied, there are many factors that contribute to the numeric value one pays; input costs, consumer perception, and price of substitute goods are just a few examples of price factors. In this scenario, we will analyze the difference between an input, or the cutter cow, and the beef fresh 90’s price from packer to first receiver.

Currently, live cutter cows weighing over 500 pounds are selling at an...