Despite being projected as a down year, U.S. pork exports continue to rebound in 2007, and in October (including variety meats) broke the record for a single month set in November 2006, says the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
October’s exports reached 143,466 tons valued at $313.33 million. The previous record was 134,448 tons valued at $289 million.
The October boost in pork exports brought the total volume for January to October 2007 to 1,139,398 tons, a 1% increase over the same period in 2006, and a 9% increase in value at $2.524 billion.
Those figures place U.S. pork exports on track for another record-breaking year.
Highlights of the pork trade picture:
U.S. pork production climbed 11% in October 2007 compared to October 2006, and October exports were equivalent to 14% of the month’s production.
January through October exports to Japan, the leading market for U.S. pork, increased 9% in volume (325,995 tons) over last year and 13% in value ($953.4 million).
Mexico remains the No. 2 destination for U.S. pork exports, despite a 25% one-year drop in export volume to 243,917 tons and a 21% drop in export value to $362.4 million.
The Hong Kong/China region is the largest growth market in 2007, as exports (including variety meats) soared 86%, 105% in volume (141,842 tons) and value ($220.2 million).
Canada retains the No. 3 export position in terms of value, with a 12% increase to $397.3 million, but lags behind Hong Kong/China in volume at 130,255 tons (up 5%).
Exports to South Korea, the No. 5 market, increased 6% in value to $181 million, despite an 8% decline in volume to 83,367 tons.
Pork exports to Russia also set a monthly record in October, and also nearly doubled the volume exported in October 2006, at 15,811 tons. That put the January to October export total to Russia at 80,601 tons, 7% above the same period last year. Pork variety meat exports increased 50%, except for pork muscle cuts, which were nearly even with last year.
Pork exports to Australia increased 38% through October and totaled 28,878 tons, 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,” says the USMEF.
Exports to Central and South America increased 19% from January through October, with the main growth markets of Honduras, Guatemala and Columbia.
U.S. pork exports to the Caribbean edged 1% higher to 16,253 tons.
Exports to the European Union increased 68%, with the top three markets France, Britain and Germany.
Exports to south Asian markets increased 45% to 12,338 tons, primarily to the Philippines followed by Singapore and Vietnam.
The latest export figures are available at
www.usmef.org.
