Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 11/14/14

Exports of U.S. pork through the first eight months of the year have already exceeded the results for all of 2013 – especially in such leading markets as Mexico, Japan and South Korea – according to the National Pork Board’s Pork Checkoff program.

U.S. pork exports made up 28 percent of all pork and pork variety meat production through August, up from 26 percent for all of last year, the Pork Checkoff’s International Trade Committee reported. The value of $65.29 per hog – so far – is 21 percent higher than the $53.95 per-hog value at the end of calendar 2013.

Pork export volume was up 6 percent through the first eight months at 1.48 million metric tons with the total value through August increased 15 percent to $4.53 billion compared with the same period last year.

The National Pork Board recently adopted a strategy that set a goal of increasing U.S. pork exports even more by establishing a 9-percent annual average increase in volume and value by 2020. The program also includes such initiatives as building consumer trust and driving sustainable production in addition to building consumer demand for pork domestically and internationally.

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