# US lean beef trimmings import prices rise on China demand, tight supply

> Platts assessed imported 90CL lean beef trimmings CIF US at $7,981/mt for the week to January 16, up 2% on the prior period. Strong Chinese demand for Australian and New Zealand beef ahead of a safeguard quota pushed prices up, while US cow and bull slaughter fell 2.8% year on year.

- Date: 2026-01-20 · published 2026-01-20T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/21181-us-lean-beef-trimmings-import-prices-rise-on-china-demand-tight-supply
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Tighter US cow slaughter and firm import demand support beef trim values, which tends to firm cull cow and cattle prices. Chinese buying ahead of quotas adds upward pressure in the near term.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2023-11-13 | [Paraguay's beef likely won't boost tight US supplies, importers say \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/33105-paraguay-s-beef-likely-won-t-boost-tight-us-supplies-importers-say-reuters.md) | -0.9% | -6.1% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-04-23 | [Tight Supplies and Beef Demand are Fundamental to Price Support \| Feedlot Special \| feedlotmagazine.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/11323-tight-supplies-and-beef-demand-are-fundamental-to-price-support-feedlot-special.md) | +2.3% | +3.9% |
| LCATTLE | 2019-11-27 | [China drives surge in Brazilian beef prices - 27 November 2019 Premium](https://feedsoft.ai/events/56004-china-drives-surge-in-brazilian-beef-prices-27-november-2019-premium.md) | +0.6% | +3.1% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-11-04 | [Hog prices slip as China eases tariffs on US pork - CME
						 \| The Pig Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/22095-hog-prices-slip-as-china-eases-tariffs-on-us-pork-cme-the-pig-site.md) | -1.3% | -7.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-05-26 | [Market Experts Consider Mexican Cattle Imports and Border Impacts on US Cattle Supply - Oklahoma Farm Report](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19205-market-experts-consider-mexican-cattle-imports-and-border-impacts-on-us-cattle.md) | -0.8% | +1.0% |
| FCATTLE | 2023-11-13 | [Paraguay's beef likely won't boost tight US supplies, importers say \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/33105-paraguay-s-beef-likely-won-t-boost-tight-us-supplies-importers-say-reuters.md) | -0.5% | -5.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-04-23 | [Tight Supplies and Beef Demand are Fundamental to Price Support \| Feedlot Special \| feedlotmagazine.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/11323-tight-supplies-and-beef-demand-are-fundamental-to-price-support-feedlot-special.md) | +2.5% | +3.2% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-10-08 | [Weekly protein report: Feeder cattle supplies remain tight despite renewed Mexican imports
						 \| The Cattle Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17199-weekly-protein-report-feeder-cattle-supplies-remain-tight-despite-renewed.md) | +0.9% | -0.1% |

## Sources

- spglobal.com: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/agriculture/012026-us-lean-beef-trimmings-import-prices-rise-on-china-demand-tight-supply

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.