Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 5/7/15


Resolving the labor dispute at West Coast ports helped push exports of U.S. pork and beef higher in March compared with the start of the year, according to USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Pork export volume was the highest in 11 months at more than 191,000 metric tons, according to the USMEF. The figure is down 9 percent from March 2014, but 10 percent higher than levels posted in February 2015, when port traffic was congested thanks to the labor dispute that was resolved in February. Pork export value of $495.3 million dropped 18 percent from year-ago results, but was up 5 percent from value of the exports in February.

A similar trend was noted for U.S. beef exports, the USMEF reported. Total beef exports reached nearly 87,000 metric tons, down 7 percent from March of 2014, but 5 percent higher than the previous month. Beef export value was up 2 percent from a year ago at $527 million, but down slightly from February 2015, the trade group reported.

“After months of frustration, the U.S. meat industry was finally able to reassure Asian buyers that the worst of the (port) crisis was behind us and that they could once again count on the U.S. to fulfill its role as a reliable supplier,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “This was especially important for customers purchasing chilled pork and beef, which require very prompt delivery due to product shelf life.”

The port situation also was complicated by the damaged competitive position U.S. exporters found themselves in as other countries brought in lower-priced products and market access barriers were maintained in China and Russia, the USMEF noted.

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