A slight increase in U.S. pork variety meat exports offset declines in pork m...

A slight increase in U.S. pork variety meat exports offset declines in pork muscle cut exports during the first six months of 2002, but still resulted in a decline of 3 percent in volume, to 359,291 metric tons (mt), and 5 percent in value, according to USDA export statistics.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation reports that exports of U.S. pork muscle cuts for January-June 2002 were 4 percent lower in volume (272,559 mt) and 5 percent lower in value ($688 million), when compared to the same period in 2001. A small decline in the volume of exports to Mexico (down 3 percent to 56,110 mt) and a large drop in exports to Russia (down 60 percent to 7,209 mt) were partially offset by a 2 percent increase in exports to Japan (140,388 mt) and significant increases to Canada (up 4 percent to 34,453 mt), South Korea (up 70 percent to 8,347 mt), and China/Hong Kong (up 12 percent to 7,370 mt).

Sales to Russia were hit hard by competition from cheaper Brazilian products, which, according to the most recent Russian statistics (Jan-May), now account for 53 percent of Russian imports.

Exports of U.S. pork variety meats increased 1 percent though June, to 86,732 mt. The leading market, Mexico, bought 28 percent more U.S. pork variety meats (50,645 mt), while exports to China/Hong Kong fell 16 percent to 16,969 mt, due to problems obtaining import permits in the aftermath of China’s joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). Pork variety meat sales to Russia also were hard hit by competition from Brazil and fell 82 percent to 888 mt.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.

-- USMEF --