ANALYSIS: US Imported Beef Prices Increased 22% YOY on Average in 2025

After evaluating year-over-year average prices for commonly traded imported boneless beef items, most offerings rose in a narrow band, roughly 20-23%, from 2024 to 2025. The largest gains were posted by South American 90% and Central American 95%, each up about 23%, with Brazilian 90% and multiple Aus/NZ items clustering just below that level. Overall, the data show a broad-based increase across origins and lean levels rather than isolated spikes in a single product or origin...

NPFDA Welcome Treasurer and Six New Board Members

The National Protein and Food Distributors Association (NPFDA) announced recent changes to its Board of Directors, including the appointment of Scott Robbert, Vice President of Logistics at EJ Poultry, as Treasurer.

Robbert will join the 2026 NPFDA Officers:

• Chair: Greg Morgan, Vice President of National Accounts, Quirch Foods
• Vice Chair: Barry Moose, Division Manager of Transportation, Koch Foods
• Immediate Past Chair: Chan Windham, Vice President of Sales, House of Raeford Farms

The official induction will take place during the Annual Convention & Protein Suppliers Showcase at the Hyatt...

FMI Reacts to New USDA Guidance on SNAP Waivers

Today, FMI – The Food Industry Association Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher offered the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) long-awaited Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailer compliance guidance to implement food restriction waivers:

“FMI members remain committed to supporting the health and nutrition goals of all customers — including SNAP participants — and we appreciate the USDA confirmation that each state-issued food restriction waiver will include a 90-day grace period following its implementation date. This transition window is essential to helping retailers identify and raise compliance issues...

A Year of Change, Value, and Growth in Foodservice

As we closed the month of December and ushered out the year 2025, we look back at some of the most memorable moments in foodservice. From corporate controversy to shifting consumer behavior, the year delivered no shortage of headlines.

Controversy erupted when a popular chain restaurant walked back a logo redesign that ultimately spilled into the political arena. "Value" emerged as the buzzword of the year as restaurants competed to give consumers more for their money. Meanwhile, beef prices climbed to historic highs, pushing chicken into the spotlight as diners...

Whole Foods Market’s Top Food Trends to Watch in 2026

Whole Foods Market has released its annual forecast of the top food and beverage trends expected to shape shopping carts, kitchens, and consumer preferences in 2026. Developed by the retailer’s Trends Council, a group of buyers, culinary experts, and industry scouts, the list reflects emerging patterns in health, convenience, sustainability, and food culture.

One notable shift is the resurgence of beef tallow, a traditional cooking fat prized for its rich flavor and high smoke point. Once a staple of classic kitchens, tallow is being rediscovered by consumers interested in...

USDA Announces Commodity Payment Rates for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program

Eligible producers to receive pre-filled program applications and payments in February

Today [December 31, 2025], U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the next phase in the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA), the eligible commodity per-acre payment rates. As announced earlier this month by President Trump and Secretary Rollins, $12 billion will be paid to American farmers in 2026. Of that amount, $11 billion consists of one-time FBA program payments. This is in response to four years of disastrous Biden administration policies that created record-high input and production costs...

Expana to Observe New Year Holiday on January 1, 2026

Expana will be observing the New Year holiday on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

As previously announced, Market Insights and Market Updates were suspended beginning December 22 through January 2 with normal publishing to resume Monday January 5, 2026.

See the publication schedule for the 2025 Holiday Period here. 

Additionally, the Editorial Department will not be publishing news on Thursday, January 1 and will resume normal publishing on Friday, January 2, 2026. 

Happy New Year to all from everyone at Expana.

ANALYSIS: Frozen Whole Toms Rise From Five-Year Low to Near-Record Highs in 2025

The 16 lbs. frozen whole tom market started 2025 with the lowest value of the past 5-years. Starting in February though, it rose over the course of the year until it now sits at the second highest value ever recorded. This year’s December quotations fall only behind 2022 when the current outbreak of HPAI started. The value of frozen whole turkeys increased through much of 2022 before stabilizing in November. Prices then plateaued through April of 2023 before rapidly falling through the rest of the year. Quotations maintained a sideways trend through...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Inventories Hold Steady Amid Category Divergence

The USDA’s most recent cold storage release presents a mixed backdrop for the chicken complex as November came to a close, with key categories moving in notably different directions. Even so, inventory levels remained tightly clustered around both last November’s close and October’s ending stocks. At 814.9 million pounds, November’s total frozen chicken inventories ranked as the ninth-highest seasonal level in at least the past three decades. This figure reflects a 0.7% year-over-year (YOY) increase and a modest 0.4% rise from October. For context, month-over-month (MOM)...

Secretary Rollins Announces New Priorities for Research and Development in 2026

Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, signed a Secretary’s Memorandum (PDF, 909 KB) that puts forth a focused effort to establish new priorities for future research and development activities funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen national security, protect U.S. agriculture, and support American farmers and consumers.

The American farm economy suffered under failed Biden-Harris Administration policies that drove up inflation, created a weak trade agenda that resulted in no new trade deals for American commodities, and propagated crippling overregulation. Further, misguided policies focused on DEI and environmental justice in agricultural research, extension, and education programs diverted...

China Imposes Additional 55% Tariffs on Imported Beef

China today (December 31) imposed additional 55% tariffs on beef imports from countries ⁠including Brazil, Australia and the US when shipments exceed certain quotas, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).

The tariffs will apply to imported beef, effective January 1, 2026, according to the ministry.

The measures take effect ahead of the investigation’s revised January 26 deadline, marking a sharp shift in the pace of the case, with many of the most affected suppliers caught during the year-end Christmas and New Year closures.

A Chinese importer told Expana today

ANALYSIS: Bone-In Ham Market Transitions Post-Holiday 

According to Circana retail data, retail bone-in half ham activity has softened following the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday demand period, with prices and sales pulling back in line with typical seasonal patterns. Discounted retail prices moved lower into mid-December, settling in the $1.30–1.55/lb range, roughly 50% below late-November and early-December holiday highs near $2.80–3.00/lb, while non-discounted prices eased to the $1.85–1.95/lb range, about 38% below peak holiday levels...

Burger King® and Popeyes® Announce New Head Chefs

Burger King® and Popeyes® have each announced a new Head Chef – promoting existing top talent within Restaurant Brands International (RBI).

Amy Alarcon has been appointed Head Chef for Burger King, U.S. & Canada, following 18 years as a culinary leader and Head Chef at Popeyes. Amy previously led Popeyes’ success in shaping the brand’s culinary identity and driving category-defining menu innovation, including the iconic Popeyes Chicken Sandwich.

In her new role, Chef Amy will lead the Burger King culinary strategy...

Long John Silver’s Brings Back $6 Fish & Chicken Basket

Long John Silver’s is bringing back its popular fish baskets, harmonizing flavors from both sea and land while delivering the value customers seek. This revival features the $6 Fish & Chicken Basket for a limited time. 

"Guests have been telling us for years that our chicken is a best-kept secret," said Christopher Caudill, Long John Silver's senior vice president of marketing and innovation. "Our hand-battered chicken strips—known as Chicken Planks—are every bit as crave-worthy as our legendary fish. It's time we let that secret...

Crayola Launches Global McDonald's Happy Meal® Experience That's Out-of-This-World

Crayola has teamed up with McDonald's for the first time on a global scale with a new Happy Meal experience to propel kids' imagination into orbit and transform the universe into a canvas for creativity.

The Happy Meal features an exclusive lineup of co-branded, space-themed activity kits and toys designed to encourage hands-on creative moments that the whole family can share. The limited-edition Planet McDonald's Happy Meal is rolling out at participating McDonald's...

USTR Takes Measured Approach On Nicaragua

The US Trade Representative recently announced that the US will impose tariffs on all imported Nicaraguan goods that are not originating under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, due to a Section 301 investigation of Nicaragua's labor practices. The tariff will initially be set at zero, but is set to increase to 10% in 2027 and to 15% in 2028. It's a measured approach that won't interrupt trade with a growing market for US pork, according to US Meat Export Federation Central America Representative Lucia Ruano...

Op-Ed by Ambassador Jamieson Greer: The Year of the Tariff

WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer published an op-ed in The Financial Times explaining how President Trump’s trade program is accelerating America’s re-industrialization, incentivizing domestic production with improved market access for US exports.

The full text of the op-ed is below:

The year 2025 will be remembered as the year of the tariff, regardless of one’s economic ideology. International trade is neither good nor bad — it just is. The real question is whether trade patterns serve the national interest...

China to Impose Beef Safeguards: Details Due December 30

On December 30, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) is expected to announce the final outcome of its global safeguards investigation into beef imports, with a likely implementation date of January 1, 2026, the Meat Industry Association (MIA) said in a circular. MIA, the industry association from New Zealand, has been monitoring the situation and sent out a press release to update market participants.

The measure would create country-specific tariff-rate quotas for major exporters to China allocated on a three-year reference period...

ANALYSIS: 2025 US Steer & Heifer Select Grading Percentage is at Historic Lows

US Select grading percentages have dropped to record lows in 2025, highlighting a notable shift in cattle quality across the fed supply base. Throughout the year, Select grading has remained well below historical norms, hitting lows around 10.5% late in the year. 

This represents a sharp departure from prior years, when Select grades often held in the mid-teens or higher during seasonal peaks. The sustained decline reflects fewer cattle falling short of Choice specifications. Several structural factors are driving this trend: extended...

ANALYSIS: Early December US Beef Imports from Mexico Higher

US beef imports from Mexico remained active into year end, even as Mexican export prices continued to move higher amid limited production availability, increased production costs, and ongoing protocols related to New World Screwworm controls. Despite the incremental price environment for Mexican material, import volumes remained firm as US buyers focused on maintaining product availability for year-end needs.

Expana Publication Schedule for the 2025 Holiday Period

Expana will be observing several holidays which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices. Daily assessments falling on these dates will not be published, while weekly assessments falling on these dates will be assessed on the last working day before these dates.

Expana's Market Insights and Market Updates will be suspended from Monday, December 22, 2024, to Friday, January 2, 2025, inclusive. Normal publishing schedules will resume on Monday, January 5, 2025.

See the publication schedule for the 2025 Holiday Period...