MANHATTAN, Kan. – U.S. beef exports slipped slightly in January compared to a year ago – by 2.7 percent to 212 million pounds – but overall exports are still strong, said James Mintert, livestock marketing specialist with K-State Research and Extension.

The dip stemmed primarily from reduced food aid exports to Russia, he said.

Exports to other countries, however, were better than expected, with sales to South Korea up 43 percent, Mexico up 21 percent, Canada up 9 percent and Japan up 1.9 percent.

"At this point it’s still unclear what impact, if any, the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the European Union, especially the United Kingdom, will have on U.S. beef trade," Mintert said. "It’s unlikely the U.S. will have an opportunity to significantly increase beef exports to the EU, given the EU’s restriction on importing beef that has received hormone implants. However, it’s possible that U.S. exports could benefit if the EU’s foot-and-mouth disease problems are not resolved soon, as U.S. beef exports could replace some beef exports from the EU to various importing countries."