Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 9/14/09

U.S. pork and beef exports through July are down amid the global economic downturn and lingering effects from the H1N1 flu outbreak, the U.S. Meat Export Federation said.

Pork exports of 1.08 million metric tons valued at $2.53 billion were down 10 percent and 9 percent, respectively, from the same period a year ago. However, they are 53 percent and 48 percent higher in volume and value, respectively, than in January-July 2007, USMEF said.

Beef exports of 512,053 metric tons valued at $1.94 billion were 6 percent lower than last year's volume and reflected a 10 percent drop in value, primarily due to lagging global demand for beef variety meat. Beef muscle cut exports of 338,217 metric tons slightly exceeded last year's volume and trailed in value ($1.45 billion compared with $1.48 billion) by only 2 percent.

H1N1

H1N1 has put a damper on U.S. pork exports in several key markets, including China. Pork exports to China already had slowed before Beijing instituted a ban in early May.

"Our expectations for China were modest for this year, because we knew they would have much higher domestic production," USMEF Chairman Jon Caspers said. "But being shut off completely from the world's largest pork-consuming market is a very serious blow for the industry."

The flu, which cannot be contracted from eating pork, also has caused disruptions in Mexico and Russia, although USMEF said demand in those markets is recovering.

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