Early CME Trading Sees Gains Across Grain and Livestock Futures Contracts – News and Statistics
Feb 2, 2026
Early trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange showed gains across multiple grain and livestock futures contracts on Monday, according to Associated Press data. The data showed estimated sales volumes of 17,217 contracts for one commodity group and 5,660 for another, with a separate commodity group seeing estimated sales of 17,439 contracts.
The front-month February 2026 contract for one commodity settled at 238.60, an increase of 2.75. The April 2026 contract rose 3.23 to 240.03, and the June 2026 contract increased 3.08 to 234.80. Contracts through February 2027 all posted gains, ranging from +2.50 to +3.00.
In a different commodity group, the March 2026 contract was up 6.00 to 366.28. The April 2026 contract gained 5.88 to 364.15, and subsequent contracts through January 2027 also advanced, with increases between +4.63 and +5.58.
Another set of contracts also moved higher. The February 2026 contract rose 0.75 to 88.00. The April 2026 contract increased 1.75 to 96.90, and the May 2026 contract was up 1.35 to 100.28. Contracts through April 2027 all finished the early session with gains.
The trading data also noted Friday’s sales and open interest figures for comparative context. For the first commodity group, Friday’s sales were 84,151 contracts with an open interest of 334,092, down 250. The second group had Friday sales of 28,045 and an open interest of 75,852, which was up 784. The third group reported Friday sales of 50,209 and an open interest of 361,208, an increase of 2,621.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the beef industry in the United States, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the national value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between domestic suppliers and international partners. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the beef landscape in the United States.
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Key findings
- Domestic demand is shaped by both household and industrial usage, with trade flows linking local supply to imports and exports.
- Pricing dynamics reflect unit values, freight costs, exchange rates, and regulatory shifts that affect sourcing decisions.
- Supply depends on input availability and production efficiency, creating a distinct national cost curve.
- Market concentration varies by segment, creating different competitive landscapes and entry barriers.
- The 2035 outlook highlights where capacity investment and demand growth are most aligned within the country.
Report scope
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics for the United States. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts.
- Market size and growth in value and volume terms
- Consumption structure by end-use segments
- Production capacity, output, and cost dynamics
- Trade flows, exporters, importers, and balances
- Price benchmarks, unit values, and margin signals
- Competitive context and market entry conditions
Product coverage
- FCL 947 – Buffalo meat
- FCL 867 – Meat of cattle
Country coverage
Country profile and benchmarks
This report provides a consistent view of market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for the United States. The profile highlights demand structure and trade position, enabling benchmarking against regional and global peers.
Methodology
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
- International trade data (exports, imports, and mirror statistics)
- National production and consumption statistics
- Company-level information from financial filings and public releases
- Price series and unit value benchmarks
- Analyst review, outlier checks, and time-series validation
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
Forecasts to 2035
The forecast horizon extends to 2035 and is based on a structured model that links beef demand and supply to macroeconomic indicators, trade patterns, and sector-specific drivers. The model captures both cyclical and structural factors and reflects known policy and technology shifts in the United States.
- Historical baseline: 2012-2025
- Forecast horizon: 2026-2035
- Scenario-based sensitivity to income growth, substitution, and regulation
- Capacity and investment outlook for major producing companies
Each projection is built from national historical patterns and the broader regional context, allowing the report to show where growth is concentrated and where risks are elevated.
Price analysis and trade dynamics
Prices are analyzed in detail, including export and import unit values, regional spreads, and changes in trade costs. The report highlights how seasonality, freight rates, exchange rates, and supply disruptions influence pricing and margins.
- Price benchmarks by country and sub-region
- Export and import unit value trends
- Seasonality and calendar effects in trade flows
- Price outlook to 2035 under baseline assumptions
Profiles of market participants
Key producers, exporters, and distributors are profiled with a focus on their operational scale, geographic footprint, product mix, and market positioning. This helps identify competitive pressure points, partnership opportunities, and routes to differentiation.
- Business focus and production capabilities
- Geographic reach and distribution networks
- Cost structure and pricing strategy indicators
- Compliance, certification, and sustainability context
How to use this report
- Quantify domestic demand and identify the most attractive segments
- Evaluate export opportunities and prioritize target destinations
- Track price dynamics and protect margins
- Benchmark performance against leading competitors
- Build evidence-based forecasts for investment decisions
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, wholesalers, investors, and advisors who need a clear, data-driven picture of beef dynamics in the United States.
FAQ
What is included in the beef market in the United States?
The market size aggregates consumption and trade data, presented in both value and volume terms.
How are the forecasts to 2035 built?
The projections combine historical trends with macroeconomic indicators, trade dynamics, and sector-specific drivers.
Does the report cover prices and margins?
Yes, it includes export and import unit values, regional spreads, and a pricing outlook to 2035.
Which benchmarks are included?
The report benchmarks market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for the United States.
Can this report support market entry decisions?
Yes, it highlights demand hotspots, trade routes, pricing trends, and competitive context.
