Audio: Pork Exports to Mexico Down from Last Year’s Record Pace, but Remain Solid
Published: Apr 16, 2013
00:00 / 00:00
You may download the audio file here
Through the first two months of this year, U.S. pork exports to Mexico slipped 13 percent in volume (98,237 metric tons) and 12 percent in value ($183.4 million) from the record pace of 2012. Dan Halstrom, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) senior vice president for marketing and communications says this is due in part to a large increase in Mexico’s poultry imports, which has impacted demand from Mexico’s major meat processors. But Halstrom notes that pork exports to Mexico are still on pace to exceed $1 billion in 2013, and that this market holds excellent potential for pork consumption growth.
While much of the pork exported to Mexico is for further processing, Halstrom sees a wider range of cuts being featured at the retail level. He explains that while Mexico does not require country-of-origin labeling for pork, more and more supermarkets view “U.S. Pork” labeling as a mark of quality and safety that appeals to their customers. TRANSCRIPT
JOE SCHUELE: In this US Meat Export Federation Report, USMEF Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Dan Halstrom, discusses pork exports to Mexico. While exports are down from last year’s record pace, Halstrom remains bullish on this market.
DAN HALSTROM: We’re coming off a record year; 2012 was by far a record, about 1.125 billion dollars in exports in pork down to Mexico. The US has about a 91% share, so it’s a huge market and we have the vast majority of the pie down there. We are down a little bit this year. Part of it is, we’re seeing poultry exports up pretty big the first part of this year, but it doesn’t change the overall dynamics, and the dynamics are that pork consumption in Mexico is relatively low, a little more than half the rate of our per capita consumption, so there’s a lot of room for growth and that’s really what we’re focused on. We’re focused on really teaching the attributes of pork. Something as basic as the safety of pork. We spent a lot of time and effort educating the trade and the consumers that, not only is pork safe, but it’s an extremely nutritious, versatile protein.
JOE SCHUELE: While Mexico does not require country-of-orgin labeling for pork at retail, Halstrom says many supermarkets view US pork labeling as a mark of quality and safety that appeals to their customers.
DAN HALSTROM: A large part of it goes into further processing, so there’s a lot of hams, a lot of picnics that go down there, however, at a retail level, we’re seeing quite a bit of progress as well, where the primal cuts, the sub-primals are identified as US loins or US pork butt, this sort of thing. They see it as a marketing advantage. Costco being one, HEB is another one, and some of the domestic retailers, as well we’re working with, such as Surianas. So it’s a slow, steady evolution, that we’re seeing more and more of US labeled product at retail.
JOE SCHUELE: For more on this and other trade issues, please visit USMEF.ORG. For the US Meat Export Federation, I’m Joe Schuele.
While much of the pork exported to Mexico is for further processing, Halstrom sees a wider range of cuts being featured at the retail level. He explains that while Mexico does not require country-of-origin labeling for pork, more and more supermarkets view “U.S. Pork” labeling as a mark of quality and safety that appeals to their customers. TRANSCRIPT
JOE SCHUELE: In this US Meat Export Federation Report, USMEF Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Dan Halstrom, discusses pork exports to Mexico. While exports are down from last year’s record pace, Halstrom remains bullish on this market.
DAN HALSTROM: We’re coming off a record year; 2012 was by far a record, about 1.125 billion dollars in exports in pork down to Mexico. The US has about a 91% share, so it’s a huge market and we have the vast majority of the pie down there. We are down a little bit this year. Part of it is, we’re seeing poultry exports up pretty big the first part of this year, but it doesn’t change the overall dynamics, and the dynamics are that pork consumption in Mexico is relatively low, a little more than half the rate of our per capita consumption, so there’s a lot of room for growth and that’s really what we’re focused on. We’re focused on really teaching the attributes of pork. Something as basic as the safety of pork. We spent a lot of time and effort educating the trade and the consumers that, not only is pork safe, but it’s an extremely nutritious, versatile protein.
JOE SCHUELE: While Mexico does not require country-of-orgin labeling for pork at retail, Halstrom says many supermarkets view US pork labeling as a mark of quality and safety that appeals to their customers.
DAN HALSTROM: A large part of it goes into further processing, so there’s a lot of hams, a lot of picnics that go down there, however, at a retail level, we’re seeing quite a bit of progress as well, where the primal cuts, the sub-primals are identified as US loins or US pork butt, this sort of thing. They see it as a marketing advantage. Costco being one, HEB is another one, and some of the domestic retailers, as well we’re working with, such as Surianas. So it’s a slow, steady evolution, that we’re seeing more and more of US labeled product at retail.
JOE SCHUELE: For more on this and other trade issues, please visit USMEF.ORG. For the US Meat Export Federation, I’m Joe Schuele.