May Pork Exports Highest in Two Years; Beef Exports Below Record-Large, Year-Ago Totals
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Led by another outstanding month in Mexico and robust demand for variety meat, exports of U.S. pork continued to gain momentum in May, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). While well below the record-large volume and value posted in May 2022, beef exports improved from April and were the second largest (behind March) of 2023.
May pork exports reached 261,361 metric tons (mt), up 16% from a year ago, the ninth largest on record and the largest since May 2021. Export value climbed 12% to $731.1 million, also the highest since May 2021 and the seventh highest on record. Pork variety meat exports were particularly outstanding in May, setting a value record of $127 million.
USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom explains how a wide range of markets contributed to the growth in pork exports. He also notes month-over-month growth in beef exports despite a continued decline in exports to Japan.
Beef exports totaled 116,159 mt, down 14% from the May 2022 record but up 4% from the previous month. Export value was $874.7 million, down 19% year-over-year but 2% above April. May exports strengthened to Mexico, Taiwan and South Africa, and export value to Canada was the highest in nearly eight years. Beef variety meat exports were the largest in 12 months at just under 27,000 mt.
For January through May, beef and beef variety exports were down 10% to 554,069 mt, valued at $4.09 billion (down 21%).
A detailed summary of the January-May export results for U.S. beef, pork and lamb, including market-specific highlights, is available from the USMEF website.