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.
Those restrictions were removed in the fall of 2024 and with support from USDA and the Beef Checkoff Program, U.S. beef has made an impressive recovery. Homero Recio, a Latin America representative for the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), credits the Meat Merchandiser Program – a team of experts who educate key customers about the unique attributes of U.S. beef – for much of this success. Recio explains that the team 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 adds that the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, in place since 2012, also played a key role in getting access for U.S. beef fully restored.
Courtesy photo.
United States beef on display in a meat case in Columbia.
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