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Russia restrictions weighing on U.S. beef, pork exports
Story Date: 7/16/2013
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Source: MEATINGPLACE, 7/15/13
The inability of the United States to ship beef and pork to Russia is putting a damper on U.S. red meat exports this year, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
Exports of U.S. beef moved 3 percent higher in volume in May, from a year ago, while pork exports dipped 3 percent in volume, according to USDA statistics compiled by USMEF.
However, excluding Russia, beef export volume for May would have increased 12 percent and pork exports would have been up 3.5 percent.
For the first five months of the year, beef export volume fell 3 percent. Excluding Russia, it would have risen 3.5 percent.
For pork in the first five months, export volume fell 9 percent, but would have been down 5.8 percent if Russia was excluded.
“The loss of a key market like Russia ripples through the red meat industry,” USMEF Chief Executive Philip Seng said in a news release.
U.S. beef exports to Japan jumped 74 percent in May, to 28,122 metric tons.
Beef exports also rose to Hong Kong and Taiwan. Exports were steady to higher for Canada, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Mexico is buying less beef as consumers turn to more affordable proteins like poultry and pork, USMEF said. In South Korea, increased domestic beef production and lower-priced Australian product has dampened demand for high-quality U.S. beef.
May pork exports were led by an 11 percent increase to Mexico, while volumes to Japan were steady. Exports also were larger for Central and South America and the Caribbean, but declined for Russia and Canada.
“The volume of U.S. pork that Mexico consumes is essential for our industry, and that is why we have focused resources on driving up per-capita pork consumption there,” Seng said.
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