U.S. Pork Exports Break Monthly Record In October, On Track For Another Record Year...

Published: Dec 13, 2007

U.S. pork exports (including variety meat) in October broke the record for a single month set in Nov. 2006. October’s exports totaled 130,424 metric tons (mt) valued at $313.33 million. The previous record was 122,225 metric tons valued at $289 million. The October increase was enough to bring the January through October total volume to 1,035,816 mt, a 1 percent increase over the same period in 2006 and a 9 percent increase in value at $2.524 billion — on track for another record-breaking year.

Highlights from the latest results include:

U.S. pork production increased 11 percent in October, compared to October 2006, and October exports (not including variety meats) were equivalent to 14 percent of October production.
January through October exports to Japan, the leading market for U.S. pork, increased 9 percent in volume (296,359 mt) over last year and 13 percent in value ($953.4 million).
Mexico remains the No. 2 market despite a 25 percent year-on-year decrease in volume (221,743 mt) and a 21 percent drop in value ($362.4 million).
The Hong Kong/China region is the largest growth market this year, with exports (including variety meat) increasing 86 percent and 105 percent in volume (128,947) and value ($200.2 million) respectively in Jan.-Oct.
Canada holds its No. 3 position in value terms, with a 12 percent increase to $397.3 million, but is behind Hong Kong/China in volume at 118,414 mt (up 5 percent).
Exports to South Korea, the No. 5 market, increased 6 percent in value to $181 million despite an 8 percent decline in volume to 75,778 mt.
Exports to Russia also hit a monthly record and were nearly double the volume exported in October 2006, at 14,374 mt, putting the January through October total at 73,274 mt, a 7 percent increase over the same period last year. Although pork muscle cut exports to Russia are nearly even with last year, pork variety meat exports increased 50 percent.
Exports to Australia increased 38 percent through October and totaled 26,253 mt valued at $71.3 million. These very positive results come at the same time the Australian government has launched an investigation into whether to implement safeguard measures to protect producers from imports.
Exports to Central and South America also increased 19 percent through October, with the main growth markets of Honduras, Guatemala, and Colombia.
U.S. pork exports (including variety meat) to the Caribbean (excluding Cuba but including the Dominican Republic) increased 1 percent to 14,775 mt.
Exports to the EU increased by 68 percent, the top three destinations being France, Britain and Germany.
Exports to the ASEAN increased 45 percent to 11,216 mt, with the Philippines as the primary destination followed by Singapore and Vietnam.

U.S. Beef (Including Variety Meat) Exports Up 19 Percent In Volume, 30 Percent In Value

U.S. beef exports (including variety meat) for Jan.-Oct increased 19 percent in volume to 639,549 mt and 30 percent in value to $2.172 billion. Beef muscle cut exports increased 26 percent over the first 10 months of 2006 to 385,724 mt valued at $1.669 billion (up 34 percent).

Mexico is still the largest market for U.S. beef with a 3 percent increase in value to $993.44 million (including variety meat) despite a 3 percent decline in volume to 298,407 mt. Exports to Mexico in October increased 17 percent over October 2006 and totaled 35,810 mt. Exports to Canada, the No. 2 market, increased 34 percent to 106,353 mt valued at $486.53 million (up 37 percent) through October. Japan remains the third largest market by value despite the 20-month age restriction, with exports reaching 39,775 mt valued at $206.28 million. October exports totaled more than 4,000 mt despite the seasonal reduction in eligible cattle. Exports to the Middle East increased 11 percent to 80,530 mt valued at $91.4 million. Although the majority of this volume was liver bound for Egypt, beef muscle cut exports to the UAE increased by 70 percent to 2,270 mt and beef muscle cut exports to the region totaled 5,705 mt. Dubai is now considered the gateway to the Middle East and North Africa, with significant potential for high quality U.S. beef. The bulk of U.S. beef distributed in the UAE goes to upper-end restaurants and world-class hotels. Tenderloin and rib eye steaks are among the most demanded U.S. beef cuts. Striploin, sirloin, chuck, roast beef, franks and sausages are still making headway into the retail sector.

Even though South Korea was only open to U.S. beef for a few intermittent months, it is currently the fifth largest market with exports at 25,055 mt for Jan.-Oct. Exports to Taiwan fell 2 percent to 17,904 mt, but remain 15 percent above 2003 export volume. Exports to the Caribbean increased by 14 percent to 15,533 mt with Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic as the largest markets. Exports to the ASEAN increased by an impressive 180 percent to 12,493 mt, with Vietnam, the Philippines, and Singapore as the largest markets. Exports to Hong Kong also increased by 283 percent totaling 7,787 mt despite the strict boneless LT30 protocol. Beef exports to the EU increased 129 percent to 6,270 mt with about half the exports going to the Netherlands followed by Italy and Germany as the largest markets. Beef plus beef variety meat exports to Central and South America increased 56 percent to 7,286 mt, with Peru, Guatemala, and Honduras as the largest markets. Peru is the largest variety meat market, primarily livers, while Guatemala is the largest muscle cut market in the region.

The latest export figures can be read in full at www.usmef.org.

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 –