Sticking with the theme, “For Cattle and Country,” it is always a good idea to evaluate the product we produce on a national and global scale. The feeder cattle and market cows that leave our farm go across the world once they hit the beef supply chain. However, we also import cattle and beef, and it is important to know why this happens. We will go over some highlights of America’s exports and imports along with some reasons things are the way they are. 

First, the United States exported $10.45 billion in beef globally in 2024, with Korea topping the list at $2.22 billion. The United States also exported just more than $2 billion to Canada and Mexico, making up 22% of total U.S. beef exports. Sales of beef to Canada add an additional $35 per head and sales to Mexico add an additional $53 per head to U.S. cattle. The United States also exports live cattle. In 2024 the United States exported $56 million of breeding stock globally and $379 million in feeder cattle to Canada for highlights. 

When evaluating other countries relative to America, we import 78% of Canada’s beef, which totals around $2.8 billion. On the live-animal side, we import about 800,000 head of cattle from Canada, most being direct-to-slaughter at approximately 620,000 head. Similarly, we import around $1.9 billion in beef from Mexico to the United States, accounting for 88% of Mexico’s beef exports. As you have likely heard, Mexico exports roughly 1.2 million head of cattle to the United States with the vast majority being feeder cattle headed to the feedyard. 

The United States must import lean beef trimmings from other countries for our ground beef supply. We haven’t been able to meet the demand for lean beef trimmings using our own supply for some time. If supplies become overly limited, consumers may turn to other forms of protein to meet those demands. When people get concerned about imported beef, they often don’t know it is most likely to strengthen our ground beef supply and does not take away from American beef sales. 

As you are aware, agricultural commodities end up being a political football. One example is the free trade agreement established with Australia in 2005. They’ve exported nearly $29 billion in fresh beef to the United States, but prohibit importing U.S. beef into their country, citing BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) concerns even though we are a negligible risk in the eyes of the World Organisation for Animal Health. 

Another interesting example is China, which applied 145% tariffs on U.S. beef and failed to renew the export licenses for 394 U.S. beef packing plants. China has not established maximum residue limits for beta-agonists/implants. They use this as part of their reasoning for the nonrenewal of plant licenses. Data sourced from USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).