The cost of beef trim to produce an 82% lean hamburger in January reached a record high for the...
The Trump Administration's recent move to pause most import tariffs is a win for beef buyers. For context, the U.S. imports a significant amount of lean beef trim — a key component in hamburger production. A 10%+ tariff hike on a market already experiencing record-high prices would have been hard to digest (no pun intended). So yes, this tariff delay is welcome news.
Still, there are lingering concerns. The outlook for lean beef trim remains tight. Just look at the chart — the total cattle herd from the five largest beef exporters to the U.S. is down nearly 2% year-over-year, hitting a five-year low (kind of like Paige Bueckers’ game: rare, impressive, and worth watching — congrats to her and the team!).
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