Beef, pork exports to Latin America see robust growth through support from Indiana growers 

U.S. red meat exporters will once again have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with buyers from across Latin America this summer as the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosts the Latin American Product Showcase (LAPS) in Guatemala City. The event, which USMEF hosts every other year, moves across Latin America and is supported by the Indiana Soybean Alliance. 

LAPS was in Cartagena, Colombia, in 2023 and brought some 220 importers together in one room with 70 exporting companies from the United States. It’s a rare opportunity to get hands-on with product and make sales across the region. The 2025 LAPS will be July 30-31. 

That focus on Latin America brought striking results in 2024. With data available through November, pork exports to Central America already reached an annual record of $450 million, up 28 percent from the previous year. Beef exports to the region were also strong, with value increasing 9 percent year-over-year to $147 million. 

When December data is available, pork exports to the Caribbean will likely reach an annual record, fueled by another strong year in the Dominican Republic and newfound business in Cuba. Beef exports also increased in 2024, led by larger shipments to the DR, the Netherlands Antilles and Cuba. 

In South America, U.S. beef exports have softened, largely due to temporary restrictions in Columbia related to avian flu in dairy cattle which have since been removed. But pork export growth is strong, up 28 percent at $391 million through November of 2024, already an annual record. 

Colombia has been leading that explosive growth in pork demand and USMEF is working with industry partners to push sales even further with the introduction of new products developed from the Boston butt. The centerpiece is the new Boston butt burger. 

The product originated from USMEF’s representatives in Colombia, Maria Ruiz and Homero Recio, and was further developed at an annual training seminar USMEF holds with Latin American processors at the University of Nebraska. Three Colombian importer/processors worked with University of Nebraska and USMEF staff to refine the new product. USMEF then worked with a Colombian market research firm to test it with consumers. 

“We used a firm in Colombia that’s been around for 30 years,” explained Recio. “They told us that they were astonished by the results with consumers. They said that in their 30 years of doing this work, they had never had a product that was met with such consumer acceptance.” 

“It’s not a burger made with pork trim,” Recio said. “This is a Boston butt burger. It’s different. It has marbling. It has better fat; it has firmer fat. It’s going to cook differently. It’s going to stay juicier.” 

The Boston butt burger is currently being launched in foodservice and retail in multiple outlets in Colombia.  Other companies are looking to expand its use in other parts of South America including a retail smash burger product in Chile. 

The Boston butt burger is one of eight new product ideas derived from the Boston butt presented to foodservice and retail at launch events across Colombia including ribs, steak, meatballs, sausage, cubes, pulled pork, ground pork and burger patties. 

Click here for more about the 2025 Latin American Product Showcase.