In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays features comments from Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, who says global demand for U.S. beef remains remarkably strong despite challenges in one key market.
Demand Holds Strong Even as China Weighs on Numbers
Speaking during the spring conference of the U.S. Meat Export Federation in Oklahoma City, Dan Halstrom offered a state-of-the-world business update and a close look at U.S. beef exports in the first quarter of 2026.
Halstrom acknowledged export numbers are down overall compared to last year, but quickly pointed to one major factor behind that decline. “The first quarter of 2026, we were down last year, so the first quarter of 2026, our volume is down 11%, and the value’s down about nine, I think it’s 9%,” Halstrom said. “But if you take China out, we’re up 3% on volume, we’re up 9% on value, so the rest of the world is performing.”
According to Halstrom, many international destinations continue to show impressive growth. “Even in the first quarter, before we started talking about this China relistment, you got markets like Taiwan that are up, Mexico was up on beef, you got the Caribbean and DR region was up, which to me Central America was up, which to me is amazing,” he said.
A Global Shift Toward Higher Quality Beef
Halstrom said something larger is happening in the marketplace — a transformation in what consumers across the globe are willing to pay for. “We’re not record pricing, but we’re close. 390 choice cutout that’s a heavy lift for some of these markets that didn’t used to even buy choice and higher,” Hallstrom said.
“I think we’re seeing a real transformation on the demand side on beef,” he added. “A consumer is willing to pay for value. That’s the reason our slaughter production percentage today is 88% choice and higher, that’s because the consumer is demanding it.”
While longtime premium markets such as Korea, Japan, and Taiwan have historically preferred higher quality beef, Halstrom said the biggest surprise is coming from newer regions. “We know they’re demanding it in the U.S., but we’re also seeing it being demanded internationally in non-traditional countries,” he said. “Korea, Japan, Taiwan pretty much have always demanded it, choice and higher. The Latin American countries, this is relatively new, and this is a good thing.”
He pointed to retailers helping move premium beef into international markets. “They’re recognizing the value,” Hallstrom said. “Costcos of the world, the Sam’s Clubs of the world.”
Despite tight cattle supplies and historically high prices, Hallstrom said buyers continue stepping up. “You can talk about how we don’t have enough cattle, you can talk about near record pricing,” Hallstrom said. “We’re not seeing a crack in the demand side.”
“Demand remains very, very… I mean, they don’t like paying it, but what do they do?” he said. “So, we’re in a good spot demand-wise.”
Record Value Per Head
Halstrom also highlighted growing export value on a per-head basis, saying March set a notable milestone. “So, you’re looking at $432 a head in the first quarter, but in the month of March it was $456 a head, which would be an all-time per head record,” Hallstrom said.
He said that reflects the premium consumers are increasingly willing to pay for choice and prime beef. “So in the last 10 years the value per head growth is 77%,” Hallstrom said. “We went from 2016 quarter one $243 and in quarter one of this year $432 per head.”
Growth in several international markets has been especially dramatic. “Korea, for example, went from $37 a head, $202 a head, tremendous growth,” Hallstrom said. “We pretty much knew about that one.”
He pushed back on assumptions that demand in Japan is fading because of demographics. “I’ve heard for years talk about Japan, you know, it’s an older demographic. The business is slowing down,” Hallstrom said. “It is an older demographic. The business is not slowing down.” “You can see what’s happening here,” he added. “$53 a head, up to 80.”
Halstrom also highlighted the growing demand in Mexico and Taiwan. “Mexico is growing, you know, almost $30 a head,” he said. “Taiwan has tripled in 10 years. We don’t talk a lot about Taiwan, but you have a lot of spending power there for high-quality U.S. beef.”
Smaller Markets, Big Opportunity
Some of the fastest-growing regions for U.S. beef exports may not always grab headlines, but Halstrom said they are increasingly important. “These are the four big buckets where we’ve seen the most growth,” Halstrom said, pointing to the Caribbean and Dominican Republic region, ASEAN region, Central America, and South America.
“The Caribbean and DR — look at that, more than doubled, $41 million up to $103 million,” he said.
“Asean region, 31 to 65 million. Central America, 20 to 63 million, and South America, which would be Chile, Peru, and Colombia primarily, 20 million to 48 million.”
Halstrom believes Southeast Asia may hold the greatest long-term upside despite trade barriers. “The ASEAN region, we talk a lot about it, that probably has the most potential,” Hallstrom said. “Why? Because we probably have the most headwinds there in terms of barriers.”
“I mentioned Indonesia a little bit ago on getting permits,” he added. “That could easily be a three to $400 million a year opportunity once it ramps up.”
Meanwhile, premium demand is emerging in places Halstrom once never expected. “I never thought I’d see a day where El Salvador and Guatemala are demanding prime beef,” Hallstrom said, “but we’re seeing it today.”
Halstrom said the conversation now becomes balancing investment in growing markets while protecting larger established customers. “This is an area we’re focused on,” he said. “The question is always, how much money we put here, while defending those bigger markets. It’s a very healthy conversation, one we should have.”
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR above for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
