The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the July meat export data Friday.

The percentage increases for the latest monthly pork export sales report, while holding an impressive gain against year-prior figures, were below the pace of the first six months. The year-to-date increase in exports of muscle meats at the end of July stood at 26% and the total for pork and pork variety meats was at 32%.

Pork variety meats include organ meats such as hearts, livers and kidneys, which are not widely consumed in the U.S. but are more popular in some other countries.

Industry sources and analysts said pork exports continue to benefit from bans on imports of beef from countries that have had one or more cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad-cow disease, and additional cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Asia.

The three leading importers of U.S. pork in July as well as year-to-date are Japan, Mexico and Canada. Through the first seven months, Japan accounted for 33.4% of U.S. total pork exports. Mexico was only fractionally behind, at 32.8% and Canada was at 11.7%. The largest year-on-year percentage gains were made in eastern Europe and the Middle East but those went against small volumes from last year.

Beef exports as expected remain sharply down from a year ago due to many of the nation's trading partners still having bans on U.S. beef following the BSE case in December.

July total beef and beef variety meat exports were at just 27.4% of a year ago by volume and 22.8% by value. Year-to-date tonnage of beef exports was at 19.2% of a year ago. The sales value for the category through the first seven months of the year was down in excess of $1.8 billion from the 2003 level.

This week’s estimated slaughters, combined meat production

This week's cattle slaughter was estimated at 541,000 head, compared with 640,000 a week ago and 749,000 a year ago. Year-to-date cattle slaughter is estimated at 22.588 million head, down 10.5% from a year ago.

Federally inspected hog slaughter for the week was estimated at 1.855 million head, compared with 2.037 million a week ago and 1.963 million a year ago. Year-to-date hog slaughter stands at 69.488 million, up 2.9%.

This week's combined meat production - for beef and veal, pork and lamb/mutton - was estimated at 784.0 million pounds, versus 893.3 million last week and 946.7 million a year ago. Combined meat output for the year is down 4.6% from a year ago.

Broiler slaughter this week was estimated at 148.775 million head, compared with 167.764 million a week ago and 158.505 million a year ago.

Source: eFeedLink - 13th September 2004