Live and fed cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were higher on Wednesday.
A report said United States beef exports in December, on a carcass basis, were 258.9 million pounds, up 2.6 per cent from a year ago and 2.3 per cent more than in November.
As the U.S. and China move to impose tariffs on each other, a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has been delayed.
The April live cattle contract pushed above 200 cents, gaining 2.650 cents per pound at 201.300 cents.
March feeder cattle futures was also on the upswing, adding 2.475 cents per pound at 270.725 cents per pound.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported wholesale boxed beef prices were lower on Wednesday afternoon, with choice boxes giving up $5.39 at $325.34 per hundredweight and select boxes lost $3.08 at $314.33.
Lean hog prices were higher on Wednesday. Exports amounting to 645.8 million pounds marked the second-best December on record. Exports bumped up 0.3 per cent from the previous December and improved 0.4 per cent from November. The April contract rose 1.800 cents per pound at 91.550 cents.
