“In 1998 we shipped 500,000 metric tons of pork and at a press conference at the 1999 World Pork Expo, we told the industry that we would double our exports by the year 2005,” said Danita Rodibaugh, a pork producer from Rensselaer, Ind., and president of the National Pork Board. “That was six short years ago. I am proud to say that last year we shipped over 1 million metric tons.”

According to statistics released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports were 21 percent higher in volume at 327,233 metric tons (mt) in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year, and 9 percent higher in value at $632.8 million. U.S. pork exports to Mexico, the No. 1 market in tonnage, rose 32 percent in volume to 98,092 mt and 22 percent in value to $141.4 million, while exports to Japan, the No. 1 market in value, were 9 percent lower in volume at 80,665 mt and 12 percent lower in value at $242.4 million.

“Exports have been a key component of hog prices the past 15 months,” said Rodibaugh. “Together, we are working towards a 15th consecutive year of record U.S. Pork exports.”

The Pork Checkoff works with USMEF to develop international markets. USMEF is able to carry out market development activities in more than 80 countries with Checkoff funding.

“As a producer, I am appreciative of the great partnership between the Checkoff and USMEF,” said Rodibaugh. “USMEF has helped the Checkoff build on the El Cerdo Es Bueno Hispanic marketing campaign as well as continually provided producers opportunities to market U.S Pork to new countries.”

ThePigSite News Desk