US beef imports increased 9.9% year-on-year between January and May, the smallest increase for the period since 2023. In May, however, imports declined 5% from the same month last year, marking the first year-on-year monthly decrease since November 2025 and the largest since March 2023.
The May decline was led by Brazil, whose exports to the United States fell 41.5% year-on-year as exporters prioritized shipments to the Chinese market during the first months of the year. Although Brazil remains the largest foreign supplier of beef to the US, its shipments are down 6.8% in the January-May period.
Imports from Uruguay also declined, falling 45.7% in May, although they remain 5.2% higher on a year-to-date basis.
By contrast, imports from Argentina continue to expand following the increase in the country's specific Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for this year. Between January and May, US beef imports from Argentina surged 113.8% year-on-year and now account for 4.3% of total US beef imports.
Australia remains the second-largest supplier, with shipments up 12% in the year through May. It is followed by the two neighboring suppliers, Canada, where imports increased 4%, and Mexico (+27.4%). By contrast, imports from New Zealand declined 3.6% year-on-year.
Source: Beef Magazine.
