Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 6/15/10

The value of U.S. beef and pork exports in April rose by 27 percent and 7 percent, respectively, over the same month last year, according to USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Beef and beef variety meat export value also was 10 percent higher than numbers recorded in April 2003, prior to market restrictions resulting from a U.S. case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. And pork/pork variety value reached its highest level since November 2008, USMEF noted.

April beef plus beef variety meat exports totaled 82,827 metric tons (182.6 million pounds) valued at $311.3 million, pushing the cumulative 2010 total to 307,949 metric tons (678.9 million pounds) valued at $1.1 billion. April pork/pork variety meat exports totaled 156,211 metric tons (344.4 million pounds) valued at $400.95 million, bringing the January-April total to 625,004 metric tons (1.38 billion pounds) valued at $1.51 billion.

Muscle-cut performances were especially strong in April. Beef muscle-cut value ($268 million) rose 37 percent year on year, while pork muscle-cut value ($345 million) was up 11 percent.

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