Source:Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 2/19/18



Latest available trade data totals for 2017 show that exported U.S. red meat, poultry, egg, and dairy products went mostly to Asia and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries, according to USDA’s latest Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report.

Additional export shares were accounted for by Central/South America and the Caribbean (CSA&C) and the EU, with the balance attributed to the aggregate “Rest of World” (ROW).

The export data comes as the United States continues negotiations to either update or leave NAFTA and has already withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Parntership, with an eye toward negotiating bilateral trade agreements instead.

Beef
In 2017, U.S. beef exports increased 306 million pounds (up 12 percent) year-over-year to 2.9 billion pounds. This is the second consecutive year of double-digit export growth, with volumes reaching record levels.

Sustained demand in Asian markets contributed to these volumes, with double-digit growth to Japan (26 percent) and Hong Kong (14 percent). For the U.S. beef sector, exported volumes went to Asia (66 percent), Mexico (15 percent), Canada (11 percent), and CSA&C (5 percent), with 2 percent each to the EU and ROW.

Pork
The expansion of U.S. processing capacity elevates the importance of pork exports as a component of total pork demand. In 2017, 22 percent of U.S. commercial pork production was exported.

For pork exports, Asia accounted for 43 percent, Mexico 32 percent, Canada 9 percent, CSA&C for 11 percent, and ROW for 4 percent.

This year, exports are expected to be 5.9 billion pounds, almost 5 percent above 2017 and 21.9 percent of commercial pork production.

It is anticipated that increased U.S pork production this year, and the lower pork prices that accompany it, will make U.S pork a very good buy in major foreign markets.

Poultry
Broiler exports in December were 571 million pounds, about 5 percent lower than a year earlier. Year-over-year declines were spread across a number of countries, including Kazakhstan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hong Kong, Mexico, Georgia, and Colombia.

Export losses were partially offset by significantly higher shipments to Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Projected exports for 2018 were raised 40 million pounds, in part because the raised production projection would result in greater supplies of dark meat that are typically exported.

The largest share of broiler exports—33 percent—went to ROW, 79 percent of them comprising exports to Africa and Middle Eastern countries. CSA&C accounted for 25 percent of broiler exports, Mexico for 20 percent, Asia for 18 percent, and Canada for 5 percent.

The majority of turkey exports, 62 percent, went to Mexico. CSA&C countries took 17 percent, Asia accounted for 11 percent, Canada took 2 percent, and 8 percent went to ROW.

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