U.S. Pork Exports Heading For Another Record Year | U.S. pork (including va...

U.S. Pork Exports Heading For Another Record Year

U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports were 32 percent higher in volume (722,442 mt) in the first nine months of 2004 compared to the same period of 2003, and 36 percent higher in value at $1.576 billion. U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports to Japan were 9 percent higher in volume (231,307 mt) and 19 percent higher in value ($731.7 million), but Mexico regained the  No. 1 slot in tonnage with a 68 percent increase in volume to 247,484 mt and a 91 percent increase in value to $379.6 million.

A detailed breakdown of

In First Nine Months, 58 Percent Of U.S. Beef Exports Go To Mexico

In the first nine months of 2004, 58 percent of U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports went to Mexico. U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports to Mexico totaled 123,019 metric tons (mt), a 53 percent decrease on the first nine 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 September, the United States sent 20,271 mt of beef and beef variety meat to Mexico, 37 percent less than September, 2003. The value of U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports to Mexico in the first nine months fell 48 percent to $353.3 million. The European Union (35,125 mt, valued at $24.6 million) was the second-largest destination for U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports for Jan.-Sept. 2004. U.S. beef variety meat exports to the EU were 236 percent higher (33,558 mt). U.S. beef variety meat exports to Poland, which joined the EU this year, are up 684 percent from 2,555 mt to 20,030 mt this year. According to the USDA, U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports worldwide for Jan.-Sept., 2004 totaled only 210,846 mt compared with 976,489 mt in Jan.-Sept., 2003, a 78 percent fall. The value of exports fell 82 percent from $2.885 billion to $511.3 million.

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

Mexico

New Certificate Online; New Eligible Items

As we reported on Nov. 9, the revised certificate for beef exports destined for Mexico has been posted in the FSIS Export Library of Requirements. The new certificates must accompany all shipments entering Mexico after November 11, 2004. Particular details pertaining to Mexico are online.

Exporters should note, however, that in addition to providing new certification language for certain beef items destined for Mexico, SAGARPA will now allow some additional beef items. Certain processed beef items can be exported to Mexico with stipulations listed in the FSIS Export Library of Requirements. The FSIS letterhead certificate is different for many of these items. USMEF advises that exporters review the requirements carefully to ensure that the proper letterhead certificate accompanies the appropriate products.

Many processed items, however, such as ground meat and trimmings are still not allowed, and thus, most sausage items are ineligible for export to Mexico. On the other hand such items as marinated, whole muscle items, or further processed portion control items are now allowed. The Food Safety And Inspection Service (FSIS) believes that chopped or chunked beef items are also eligible, provided these products are produced from whole muscle items and not trimmings. The FSIS, the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and USMEF are continuing to work on this issue and hope to have it resolved in the near future. Processed products for export to Mexico must be derived from products which are certified under the Beef Export Verification (BEV) program for Mexico. For more information on these programs, go to:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/arc/bev.htm

When reviewing the requirements, scroll to the "Documentation Requirements" section. The following summarizes the changes and additions:

10: Additional statements for all beef products certified by FSIS:

A. For boneless beef and boneless beef products derived from animals less than 30 months of age- New FSIS letterhead certificate

B, C, D, E, and F- New products allowed for export to Mexico; new FSIS letterhead certificate

G. Beef Trimmings- Unchanged

H. Beef hearts and kidneys- Unchanged

I. For offal products (lips, diaphragms, tongue, and/or cheek meat)- Unchanged

J. Beef livers- Unchanged

K. Beef tripe- Unchanged

U.S. Pork Exports Heading For Another Record Year

U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports were 32 percent higher in volume (722,442 mt) in the first nine months of 2004 compared to the same period of 2003, and 36 percent higher in value at $1.576 billion. U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports to Japan were 9 percent higher in volume (231,307 mt) and 19 percent higher in value ($731.7 million), but Mexico regained the  No. 1 slot in tonnage with a 68 percent increase in volume to 247,484 mt and a 91 percent increase in value to $379.6 million.

A detailed breakdown of

In First Nine Months, 58 Percent Of U.S. Beef Exports Go To Mexico

In the first nine months of 2004, 58 percent of U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports went to Mexico. U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports to Mexico totaled 123,019 metric tons (mt), a 53 percent decrease on the first nine 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 September, the United States sent 20,271 mt of beef and beef variety meat to Mexico, 37 percent less than September, 2003. The value of U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports to Mexico in the first nine months fell 48 percent to $353.3 million. The European Union (35,125 mt, valued at $24.6 million) was the second-largest destination for U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports for Jan.-Sept. 2004. U.S. beef variety meat exports to the EU were 236 percent higher (33,558 mt). U.S. beef variety meat exports to Poland, which joined the EU this year, are up 684 percent from 2,555 mt to 20,030 mt this year. According to the USDA, U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports worldwide for Jan.-Sept., 2004 totaled only 210,846 mt compared with 976,489 mt in Jan.-Sept., 2003, a 78 percent fall. The value of exports fell 82 percent from $2.885 billion to $511.3 million.

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

Mexico

New Certificate Online; New Eligible Items

As we reported on Nov. 9, the revised certificate for beef exports destined for Mexico has been posted in the FSIS Export Library of Requirements. The new certificates must accompany all shipments entering Mexico after November 11, 2004. Particular details pertaining to Mexico are online.

Exporters should note, however, that in addition to providing new certification language for certain beef items destined for Mexico, SAGARPA will now allow some additional beef items. Certain processed beef items can be exported to Mexico with stipulations listed in the FSIS Export Library of Requirements. The FSIS letterhead certificate is different for many of these items. USMEF advises that exporters review the requirements carefully to ensure that the proper letterhead certificate accompanies the appropriate products.

Many processed items, however, such as ground meat and trimmings are still not allowed, and thus, most sausage items are ineligible for export to Mexico. On the other hand such items as marinated, whole muscle items, or further processed portion control items are now allowed. The Food Safety And Inspection Service (FSIS) believes that chopped or chunked beef items are also eligible, provided these products are produced from whole muscle items and not trimmings. The FSIS, the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and USMEF are continuing to work on this issue and hope to have it resolved in the near future. Processed products for export to Mexico must be derived from products which are certified under the Beef Export Verification (BEV) program for Mexico. For more information on these programs, go to:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/arc/bev.htm

When reviewing the requirements, scroll to the "Documentation Requirements" section. The following summarizes the changes and additions:

10: Additional statements for all beef products certified by FSIS:

A. For boneless beef and boneless beef products derived from animals less than 30 months of age- New FSIS letterhead certificate

B, C, D, E, and F- New products allowed for export to Mexico; new FSIS letterhead certificate

G. Beef Trimmings- Unchanged

H. Beef hearts and kidneys- Unchanged

I. For offal products (lips, diaphragms, tongue, and/or cheek meat)- Unchanged

J. Beef livers- Unchanged

K. Beef tripe- Unchanged