Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 2/22/11

The U.S. balance of trade received a $4.24 billion shot in the arm courtesy of the red meat industry in 2010, according to statistics released by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.  

Record-high export values for beef ($4.08 billion) and the second-highest total on record for pork ($4.78 billion) fueled the trade surplus.

“The United States agriculture sector not only is feeding much of the world, but it’s an important source of jobs and revenue for our country,” said Philip Seng, president and CEO of USMEF.

The U.S. beef industry exported 2.35 billion pounds valued at $4.08 billion in 2010, increases of 19 percent in volume and 32 percent in value over 2009.  Beef exports exceeded imports by 605.1 million pounds and $1.155 billion in value.

Similarly, U.S. pork exports increased 3 percent in volume to 4.23 billion pounds and 10 percent in value to $4.78 billion versus 2009 totals.  Those exports exceeded imports by 3.4 billion pounds and $3.58 billion in value.

Total U.S. red meat exports in 2010 were valued at $8.88 billion, 19.4 percent higher than the previous year and 4 percent higher than the previous record set in 2008.

That $8.88 billion in exports supports an estimated 107,000 U.S. jobs, according to USDA calculations, with every billion dollars in U.S. agricultural exports supporting approximately 12,000 American jobs.

“The value of U.S. red meat exports can be measured in many ways,” Seng said.  “For example, in 2010, the incremental value of beef exports equated to $153.09 for every steer and heifer processed.  For hogs, the incremental value of exports was $43.72 per head.”

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