Worldwide | | Jan.-Sept. 2002 Beef Muscle Cut Exports Up | Exports of U.S....

Worldwide

Jan.-Sept. 2002 Beef Muscle Cut Exports Up

Exports of U.S. beef muscle cuts for Jan.-Sept. 2002 were nine percent higher in volume (620,808 metric tons (mt)) but three percent lower in value ($1.916 billion) compared to the same period of 2001, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A 29 percent decline in the volume of exports to Japan (189,396 mt) was offset by significant increases to South Korea (up 101 percent to 162,140 mt), Mexico (up 23 percent to 155,331 mt), Canada (up 3 percent to 59,889 mt), China/Hong Kong (up 79 percent to 16,822 mt) and Taiwan (up 29 percent to 11,070 mt).

Exports of U.S. beef variety meats fell 20 percent compared to last January-September to 301,085 mt. The Japanese market fell 57 percent to 63,289 mt and this hit the export statistics hard since Japan is the major market for U.S. beef tongues and intestines, items which don’t sell so well elsewhere. Beef variety meat exports increased to the other top markets, Mexico, Russia, and South Korea.

Jan.-Sept. 2002 Pork Exports Down 5 Percent

Exports of U.S. pork muscle cuts for Jan.-Sept. 2002 were five percent lower in volume (408,872 mt) but less than one percent lower in value ($1.017 billion) compared to the same period in 2001. A small decline in the volume of exports to Mexico (down 2 percent to 84,266 mt) and a large fall in exports to Russia (down 52 percent to 10,445 mt) were offset by an 11 percent increase in exports to Japan (203,159 mt) and significant increases to Canada (up 7 percent to 49,092 mt), South Korea (up 71 percent to 13,992 mt), and China/Hong Kong (up 2 percent to 10,696 mt).

Exports of U.S. pork variety meats increased 5 percent compared to last January-September to 134,039 mt. The leading market, Mexico, bought 25 percent more U.S. pork variety meats (79,525 mt), but exports to China/Hong Kong fell 22 percent to 23,415 mt.