Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 8/17/11

With continued strong global demand, U.S. beef and pork exports could exceed the $5 billion mark for the first time ever in 2011, the U.S. Meat Export Federation said in a recent report.

Beef exports through June were 25 percent higher in volume and 40 percent higher in value than in the first six months of 2010. First-half pork exports are also on a record pace, showing year-over-year increases of 14 percent in volume and 19 percent in value.

Dan Halstrom, USMEF’s senior vice president for global marketing, cited Latin America, the Middle East and Canada as three strong growth areas for U.S. beef. Through June, exports to Canada were 23 percent higher than last year in volume (192.5 million pounds) and 44 percent higher in value ($463.9 million).

 Exports to Central and South America were 51 percent higher in volume (28.2 million pounds) than last year and 71 percent higher in value ($35.2 million), led by strong growth in Chile, Peru, Colombia and Guatemala. Beef exports to the Middle East also continued to post strong growth, with volume (176.8 million pounds) up 38 percent from last year and value ($153.7 million) up more than 50 percent.

For pork exports, Halstrom said South Korea and Japan have been the marquee markets. Through June, U.S. pork exports to Korea reached 271 million pounds valued at $301.5 million, a 145 percent increase in volume over the first half of last year and nearly triple the value. Coming off a record value year in 2010, pork exports to Japan have increased another 10 percent in volume (550 million pounds) and 13 percent in value ($944.2 million) in 2011.

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