From Jan.-Oct, U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports were 34 percent higher in volume (819,964 mt) compared to the same period of 2003, and 38 percent higher in value at $1.789 billion. For the whole of 2003, U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports totaled 757,905 mt, valued at 1.582 billion.

Fifteen years ago, in 1989, U.S. pork exports totaled only 152,817 mt and brought in a still-substantial $377 million to the industry. Since then, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has spearheaded the pork industry’s greater attention to providing what our overseas customers want. In 1992, for the first time U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports exceeded 200,000 mt; in 1995 they surpassed 350,000; in 1996, 400,000 mt; in 1998, 500,000 mt. In 2001, U.S. pork exports jumped from the prior year’s 581,497 mt to 702,377. 2004 marks another important milestone as U.S. exports exceed 800,000 mt for the first time.

U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports to Japan were 12 percent higher in volume (258,663 mt) and 20 percent higher in value ($813.2 million), compared to the first 10 months of 2003, but Mexico retained the No.1 slot in tonnage. The U.S. pork industry will thus celebrate a fifth successive record year in Mexico. Exports to Mexico in the first ten months of 2004 have already exceeded the whole of the record-breaking 2003. U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports to Mexico totaled 286,114 mt, more than 67,000 metric tons more than the whole of 2003. The value of U.S. pork exports to Mexico has also set a new record — $445.7 million compared to $294.9 million for the whole of 2003.

U.S. pork exports have also broken, or on track to break, records for exports to Canada, China and Taiwan.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.

Source: US Meat Export Federation - 14th December 2004