USMEF Vice Chair Sees Excitement, Optimism at World Pork Expo
USMEF Vice Chair Sees Excitement, Optimism at World Pork Expo
Brighter economic times fostered a strong turnout and an optimistic atmosphere at last week’s World Pork Expo, according to USMEF Vice Chair Danita Rodibaugh, a pork producer from Rensselaer,Ind. The annual World Pork Expo was held June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
“It was a fun year to be there. There’s excitement again in the industry with the improvement in pork prices,” Rodibaugh said. “The exhibitors are pleased because last year the producers were looking for concepts but had little money to invest. This year there’s some ‘earnest shopping’ going on with renovation of facilities and investment in equipment.”
From left: John Hinners, USMEF; Dr. Songmoo Heo, Korean veterinary attaché; USMEF Vice Chair Danita Rodibaugh; Jong hyun Choi, minister for economic affairs at the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C.; Sam Carney, NPPC president; Nick Giordano, NPPC vice president and counsel for international affairs
Rodibaugh noted that favorable developments in international trade are part of the reason for industry optimism, with export performance very much on the minds of producers.
“It was great to have USMEF hosting a team of meat buyers from Mexico at the expo,” she said. “Producers were interested in their interaction with suppliers and encouraged by their strong interest in U.S. pork. The Mexican market continues to perform extremely well, even as pork prices rise internationally and domestically. So we’ll continue to pursue those opportunities in Mexico and further expand the market for U.S. pork.”
Mexico was the largest volume market for U.S. pork in 2009, setting new records in both volume and value. The momentum continues in 2010, as pork exports to Mexico have topped last year’s pace (through April) by 6 percent in volume (187,991 metric tons or 414.4 million pounds) and 25 percent in value ($331.1 million). For muscle cuts only, Mexico is up by a remarkable 25 percent in volume (128,615 metric tons or 283.5 million pounds) and 47 percent in value ($250.8 million).
Trade with South Korea was also a major topic of discussion at the expo, sparked in part by a visit from Jong hyun Choi, Minister for Economic Affairs at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C.At a meeting organized by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Minister Choi highlighted the importance and urgency of the pending free trade agreement between Korea and the United States.
“Producers had an excellent opportunity to sit down with Minister Choi and discuss the importance of this agreement for our industry and our two countries,” Rodibaugh said. “The cost of not ratifying this agreement is frightening. It opens the door for other countries to gain a large price advantage in marketing their products to Korea, and to cut into our market share.”
Korea is the fifth-largest market for U.S. pork in 2010, but exports have been running behind last year’s pace. The market showed positive momentum in April, however, with the largest export volume (10,285 metric tons or 22.7 million pounds) since October 2009 and export value reaching its highest level ($21.6 million) in the past 12 months.
China, which recently reopened to U.S. pork after several months’ absence, is also a compelling market for pork producers. Export opportunities in China were the subject of a seminar at the expo, featuring findings from Iowa State University Professor and Agribusiness Chair Dermot Hayes.
“We can’t be sure when all of our trade opportunities with China will come to fruition, but there’s certainly potential there,” Rodibaugh said. “As China eliminates some of its smaller herds it could find itself in greater need of imports, and U.S. pork needs to capitalize on those opportunities.”
USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng was also impressed with the renewed producer optimism at the expo, and was pleased with the high level of interest pork producers showed in the international marketing.
“Because they export nearly one in every four hogs, U.S. pork producers understand how important overseas markets have become to their bottom line,” he said. “They know how critical it is to differentiate their product, especially in the highly competitive markets where we are able to command a very high return on chilled pork.”
Seng met with dozens of producers and other pork industry leaders at the expo. He also conducted several media interviews, including a live appearance on WHO Radio’s The Big Show.
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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. It is funded by USDA; the beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs, as well as its members representing nine industry sectors: beef/veal producing & feeding, pork producing & feeding, lamb producing & feeding, packing & processing, purveying & trading, oilseeds producing, feedgrains producing, farm organizations and supply & service organizations.
For more information, contact Jim Herlihy at jherlihy@usmef.org.
USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law.
USMEF Vice Chair Sees Excitement, Optimism at World Pork Expo
Brighter economic times fostered a strong turnout and an optimistic atmosphere at last week’s World Pork Expo, according to USMEF Vice Chair Danita Rodibaugh, a pork producer from Rensselaer,Ind. The annual World Pork Expo was held June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
“It was a fun year to be there. There’s excitement again in the industry with the improvement in pork prices,” Rodibaugh said. “The exhibitors are pleased because last year the producers were looking for concepts but had little money to invest. This year there’s some ‘earnest shopping’ going on with renovation of facilities and investment in equipment.”
From left: John Hinners, USMEF; Dr. Songmoo Heo, Korean veterinary attaché; USMEF Vice Chair Danita Rodibaugh; Jong hyun Choi, minister for economic affairs at the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C.; Sam Carney, NPPC president; Nick Giordano, NPPC vice president and counsel for international affairs
Rodibaugh noted that favorable developments in international trade are part of the reason for industry optimism, with export performance very much on the minds of producers.
“It was great to have USMEF hosting a team of meat buyers from Mexico at the expo,” she said. “Producers were interested in their interaction with suppliers and encouraged by their strong interest in U.S. pork. The Mexican market continues to perform extremely well, even as pork prices rise internationally and domestically. So we’ll continue to pursue those opportunities in Mexico and further expand the market for U.S. pork.”
Mexico was the largest volume market for U.S. pork in 2009, setting new records in both volume and value. The momentum continues in 2010, as pork exports to Mexico have topped last year’s pace (through April) by 6 percent in volume (187,991 metric tons or 414.4 million pounds) and 25 percent in value ($331.1 million). For muscle cuts only, Mexico is up by a remarkable 25 percent in volume (128,615 metric tons or 283.5 million pounds) and 47 percent in value ($250.8 million).
Trade with South Korea was also a major topic of discussion at the expo, sparked in part by a visit from Jong hyun Choi, Minister for Economic Affairs at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C.At a meeting organized by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Minister Choi highlighted the importance and urgency of the pending free trade agreement between Korea and the United States.
“Producers had an excellent opportunity to sit down with Minister Choi and discuss the importance of this agreement for our industry and our two countries,” Rodibaugh said. “The cost of not ratifying this agreement is frightening. It opens the door for other countries to gain a large price advantage in marketing their products to Korea, and to cut into our market share.”
Korea is the fifth-largest market for U.S. pork in 2010, but exports have been running behind last year’s pace. The market showed positive momentum in April, however, with the largest export volume (10,285 metric tons or 22.7 million pounds) since October 2009 and export value reaching its highest level ($21.6 million) in the past 12 months.
China, which recently reopened to U.S. pork after several months’ absence, is also a compelling market for pork producers. Export opportunities in China were the subject of a seminar at the expo, featuring findings from Iowa State University Professor and Agribusiness Chair Dermot Hayes.
“We can’t be sure when all of our trade opportunities with China will come to fruition, but there’s certainly potential there,” Rodibaugh said. “As China eliminates some of its smaller herds it could find itself in greater need of imports, and U.S. pork needs to capitalize on those opportunities.”
USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng was also impressed with the renewed producer optimism at the expo, and was pleased with the high level of interest pork producers showed in the international marketing.
“Because they export nearly one in every four hogs, U.S. pork producers understand how important overseas markets have become to their bottom line,” he said. “They know how critical it is to differentiate their product, especially in the highly competitive markets where we are able to command a very high return on chilled pork.”
Seng met with dozens of producers and other pork industry leaders at the expo. He also conducted several media interviews, including a live appearance on WHO Radio’s The Big Show.
# # #
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. It is funded by USDA; the beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs, as well as its members representing nine industry sectors: beef/veal producing & feeding, pork producing & feeding, lamb producing & feeding, packing & processing, purveying & trading, oilseeds producing, feedgrains producing, farm organizations and supply & service organizations.
For more information, contact Jim Herlihy at jherlihy@usmef.org.
USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law.