High cattle and beef prices are supporting imports. First, cattle imports through July are up 22.6 percent compared to last year. Imports from Canada are up 18.1 percent and imports from Mexico have increased 25.2 percent over the same period. This trend of increased imports certainly has played some role in maintaining on-feed inventories and placements throughout this year. Mexico is still experiencing drought conditions that have likely catalyzed more shipments of feeders to the U.S., especially with current feeder cattle prices. Feeder calf prices softened some in August but still remain above year-ago levels.
Beef imports are up 20.1 percent through July compared to the 2023 January through July period. Most notably, b...
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...
