NASHVILLE, TN – U.S. beef exporters have a clearer path back into China after hundreds of plant registrations were renewed, but sales may not rebound quickly. Josh Maples with Mississippi State says U.S. beef exports to China totaled just 5.3 million pounds in the first quarter, down 95 percent from a year ago.
The slowdown was driven largely by facility-registration problems. More than 400 U.S. beef plants had lost the ability to export to China after required registrations expired and were not renewed.
That bottleneck eased after the Trump-Xi summit. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says China granted registration extensions to 425 overdue beef establishments and added 77 new establishments, while 38 remain suspended.
Tight U.S. beef supplies and high domestic prices still limit export competitiveness. Hong Kong has absorbed some additional U.S. beef, but combined shipments from China and Hong Kong remain well below 2021–2024 levels.
Maples says China remains a key market, but renewed access must still translate into orders and shipments.
Farm-Level Takeaway: China’s registration renewals help restore access, but tight supplies and high prices may limit a fast export rebound.