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Pork up, beef mixed in first quarter export data
Story Date: 5/14/2012
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Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 5/11/2
Export of pork muscle and variety meats were 8 percent higher in the first quarter, at just over 598,000 metric tons, than the year-earlier period. The value of the pork exports were up a whopping 20 percent, topping $1.6 billion, compared with the first quarter of 2011.
Beef recorded higher dollar value — up 4 percent to $1.25 billion — while volume dropped 10 percent, to 266,388 metric tons, according to data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
“A 20 percent increase in pork export value for the first quarter is extraordinary, especially considering the record performance of last year,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “On the beef side, market access issues and price sensitivity are making volume growth difficult in some markets, but we are pleased to see export value remaining above last year’s record pace, even on smaller volumes.”
March pork export value was particularly strong on a per-head-slaughtered basis, reaching $59.92. This was nearly $4 higher than a year ago and set a new monthly record, surpassing the previous high of $59.53 set in November 2011.
Mexico remains the leading market for U.S. pork on a volume basis. Exports to the China Hong/Kong region came on very strong in the second half of 2011, USMEF said.
Despite a 13 percent decline in volume, Mexico remained the leading destination for U.S. beef, as well. Export volume to Canada was steady with last year.
In Japan, where the Food Safety Commission continues to examine BSE-related age and product restrictions on U.S. beef, exports were down 7 percent in volume (29,695 metric tons) but up 10 percent in value ($194 million). The United States continues to gain market share, as Australia’s exports to Japan have fallen 14 percent in 2012.
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