U.S. beef exports to Colombia rebounded last year, climbing 23% in volume (4,232 metric tons) and 77% in value ($40.8 million) compared to 2024 – when the Colombian government-imposed restrictions on U.S. beef due to avian influenza detected in some U.S. dairy herds. Homero Recio, a Latin America representative for the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), said the USMEF had to work to reclaim that market share.
Recio said the Meat Merchandiser Program- a team of experts who educate key customers about the unique attributes of U.S. beef- was instrumental in bringing back customers who had switched to Canadian product when U.S. beef was not available to them as well as identifying new customers throughout Colombia.
Recio said the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which has been in place since 2012, also played a key role in getting access for U.S. beef fully restored.
For more information, visit usmef.org.
