US beef exports to Caribbean reach record value – USMEF
Japan saw lower volumes and value in the same period despite remaining a key destination
USA – In March 2026, US beef exports to the Caribbean climbed to 3,276 metric tons, marking the second-highest monthly volume on record, while export value increased 22% to a record US$36.9 million according to USDA data compiled by USMEF.
For the first quarter of 2026, shipments to the region rose 5% year on year to 8,996 metric tons, while export earnings increased 27% to US$102.7 million.
Growth across the Caribbean market was led by the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and the Netherlands Antilles, with the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, the Netherlands Antilles, and Turks and Caicos all recording first-quarter volumes at a record pace, according to USMEF-compiled trade data.
Japan export performance
US beef exports to Japan reached 57,396 metric tons in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 4% decline from the same period in 2025, while export value eased 3% to US$436.8 million according to USDA figures compiled by USMEF.
Although shipments of variety meat products increased over the period, lower volumes of muscle cuts drove the overall decline, even as Japan continued to rank as the largest destination for US beef by volume and the second-largest by value after South Korea.
The US beef sector entered 2026 facing pressure from supply constraints and market instability linked to disruptions in 2025, according to a CoBank quarterly report.
The report cited the suspension of live cattle imports from Mexico following a New World Screwworm outbreak, alongside processing plant closures, workforce reductions and greater reliance on imported beef, all of which contributed to volatility across the industry.
At the same time, cattle prices across production stages reached record levels in 2025, supporting strong returns for cow-calf and feedlot operators, while beef processors reported losses due to higher cattle procurement costs tied to limited supply.
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