Pork Exports                       | U.S. Pork Industr...

Pork Exports                      

U.S. Pork Industry Breaks Export Record For 14th Consecutive Year In 2004; Value Tops $2 Billion For First Time

U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports had already broken the record set in 2003 with the October statistics; the November figures consolidate the record. From Jan.-Nov., U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports were 36 percent higher in volume (928,693 mt) compared to the same period of 2003, and 40 percent higher in value at $2.015 billion. U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports to Japan were 14 percent higher in volume (284,704 mt) and 22 percent higher in value ($893.7 million), but Mexico retained the  No. 1 slot in tonnage with a 73 percent increase in volume to 329,767 mt and a 98 percent increase in value to $511.2 million.

2004 will be the 14th consecutive record breaking year for U.S. pork exports by volume. As the table below illustrates, in 1991 U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports broke the previous record set in 1989, and every year since the industry has exported more product. Although the value of U.S. pork exports has also increased exponentially, fluctuations in prices mean that the record setting has not been in a consistent line. In 2004, however, the U.S. pork industry’s exports exceeded $2 billion for the first time.

A detailed breakdown of Jan.-Nov. 2004 pork export figures is available at www.USMEF.org. 

China            

High-Profile NPB Delegation Examines Chinese Market

A delegation comprising the leadership of the National Pork Board (NPB) completed five days of market visits and meetings in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Beijing, China today (Jan. 14). The group met U.S. pork importers, restaurant operators featuring U.S. pork, Chinese pork processors and distributors, and Chinese government officials involved in meat safety during the five-day tour.   NPB members also met with USDA officials in all three cities, as well as representatives of China’s own hog-raising industry in an effort to deepen industry understanding of China’s growing integration into world pork markets, and how the U.S. industry can further benefit from that integration.  “Our trip to China has been an outstanding opportunity to become more aware of opportunities and challenges that the China market presents,” commented Dave Culbertson, President of the National Pork Board and delegation leader.  Culbertson added, “Exports have been a growing priority for the U.S. pork industry in recent years, and our in-depth meetings and observations here allow us to better assess the growing influence of China in the world pork market.  We will continue to see China as a key emerging market for our products.” 

The group moves to Japan tomorrow and returns to the United States on Wednesday.

In the first 11 months of 2004, the United States exported 73,283 metric tons of pork and pork variety meat (a 47 percent increase) valued at $82.3 million to China and Hong Kong. This breaks the record set in 2001 — 57,759 metric tons for the whole year.

Beef Exports

U.S. Beef Exports Down 76 Percent In First 11 Months Of 2004

In the first eleven months of 2004, the United States exported 288,015 metric tons of beef and beef variety meat worldwide, a drop of 76 percent over the same period in 2003. The value of exports fell 80 percent from $3.577 billion to $708.3 million. Sixty-one percent of the beef exported so far this year has gone to Mexico. U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports to Mexico totaled 177,026 mt, a 43 percent decrease on the first eleven months of 2003 due to the closing of the market in the beginning of the year and the restrictions on what products can be exported. In November, the United States sent 31,235 mt of beef and beef variety meat to Mexico, however, compared to 20,216 mt in November 2003. The value of U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports to Mexico in the first eleven months fell 38 percent to $507.5 million, although once again the monthly figures for November — $86.1 million compared to $52.9 million — are encouraging. The European Union (42,968 mt, valued at $30.5 million) was the second-largest destination for U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports for Jan.-Nov. 2004. U.S. beef variety meat exports to the EU were 264 percent higher (41,182 mt). U.S. beef variety meat exports to Poland, which joined the EU this year, are up 827 percent from 2,717 mt to 25,465 mt this year.

A detailed breakdown of Jan.-Nov. 2004 beef export figures is available on the USMEF Web site.

Pork Exports                      

U.S. Pork Industry Breaks Export Record For 14th Consecutive Year In 2004; Value Tops $2 Billion For First Time

U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports had already broken the record set in 2003 with the October statistics; the November figures consolidate the record. From Jan.-Nov., U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports were 36 percent higher in volume (928,693 mt) compared to the same period of 2003, and 40 percent higher in value at $2.015 billion. U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports to Japan were 14 percent higher in volume (284,704 mt) and 22 percent higher in value ($893.7 million), but Mexico retained the  No. 1 slot in tonnage with a 73 percent increase in volume to 329,767 mt and a 98 percent increase in value to $511.2 million.

2004 will be the 14th consecutive record breaking year for U.S. pork exports by volume. As the table below illustrates, in 1991 U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports broke the previous record set in 1989, and every year since the industry has exported more product. Although the value of U.S. pork exports has also increased exponentially, fluctuations in prices mean that the record setting has not been in a consistent line. In 2004, however, the U.S. pork industry’s exports exceeded $2 billion for the first time.

A detailed breakdown of Jan.-Nov. 2004 pork export figures is available at www.USMEF.org. 

China            

High-Profile NPB Delegation Examines Chinese Market

A delegation comprising the leadership of the National Pork Board (NPB) completed five days of market visits and meetings in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Beijing, China today (Jan. 14). The group met U.S. pork importers, restaurant operators featuring U.S. pork, Chinese pork processors and distributors, and Chinese government officials involved in meat safety during the five-day tour.   NPB members also met with USDA officials in all three cities, as well as representatives of China’s own hog-raising industry in an effort to deepen industry understanding of China’s growing integration into world pork markets, and how the U.S. industry can further benefit from that integration.  “Our trip to China has been an outstanding opportunity to become more aware of opportunities and challenges that the China market presents,” commented Dave Culbertson, President of the National Pork Board and delegation leader.  Culbertson added, “Exports have been a growing priority for the U.S. pork industry in recent years, and our in-depth meetings and observations here allow us to better assess the growing influence of China in the world pork market.  We will continue to see China as a key emerging market for our products.” 

The group moves to Japan tomorrow and returns to the United States on Wednesday.

In the first 11 months of 2004, the United States exported 73,283 metric tons of pork and pork variety meat (a 47 percent increase) valued at $82.3 million to China and Hong Kong. This breaks the record set in 2001 — 57,759 metric tons for the whole year.

Beef Exports

U.S. Beef Exports Down 76 Percent In First 11 Months Of 2004

In the first eleven months of 2004, the United States exported 288,015 metric tons of beef and beef variety meat worldwide, a drop of 76 percent over the same period in 2003. The value of exports fell 80 percent from $3.577 billion to $708.3 million. Sixty-one percent of the beef exported so far this year has gone to Mexico. U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports to Mexico totaled 177,026 mt, a 43 percent decrease on the first eleven months of 2003 due to the closing of the market in the beginning of the year and the restrictions on what products can be exported. In November, the United States sent 31,235 mt of beef and beef variety meat to Mexico, however, compared to 20,216 mt in November 2003. The value of U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports to Mexico in the first eleven months fell 38 percent to $507.5 million, although once again the monthly figures for November — $86.1 million compared to $52.9 million — are encouraging. The European Union (42,968 mt, valued at $30.5 million) was the second-largest destination for U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports for Jan.-Nov. 2004. U.S. beef variety meat exports to the EU were 264 percent higher (41,182 mt). U.S. beef variety meat exports to Poland, which joined the EU this year, are up 827 percent from 2,717 mt to 25,465 mt this year.

A detailed breakdown of Jan.-Nov. 2004 beef export figures is available on the USMEF Web site.