While January–November beef exports to Korea, the leading value market, remained slightly ahead of the 2024 pace, beef and variety meat shipments in November declined 20% to 17,258 mt, valued at US$ 176.2 million (down 15%). Through the first 11 months of 2025, exports were 1% higher year-on-year in both volume (211,665 mt) and value (US$ 2.02 billion), surpassing the US$ 2 billion mark for the fifth consecutive year.
November beef exports to Japan were nearly steady compared with a year earlier at 18,108 mt (down 1%), while export value slipped 5% to US$ 138.5 million. Beef variety meat shipments to Japan—primarily tongues and skirts—were a bright spot, totaling 5,495 mt, up 81% year-on-year, while value increased 59% to US$ 47.6 million. Cumulatively from January to November, exports to Japan (muscle cuts plus variety meat) declined 2% in volume (219,329 mt) and 6% in value (US$ 1.62 billion).
Led by a rebound in Indonesia, where non-tariff barriers have weighed on US beef access, November exports to the ASEAN region reached 4,718 mt, up 23% from a year earlier, while value rose 26% to US$ 33.4 million. On a January–November basis, exports to the region remained down 18% in volume (32,574 mt) and 23% in value (US$ 249.5 million). Growth prospects will depend largely on policy decisions by the Indonesian government, which has pledged to improve market access for US beef but continues to maintain complex import restrictions that are unlikely to be addressed unless a reciprocal trade agreement is signed and implemented, Usmef said.
