Pork Exports On Track For Another Record Year

US - US pork exports (including variety meat) in October broke the record for a single month set in Nov. 2006. October’s exports totaled 130,424 metric tons (mt) valued at $313.33 million. The previous record was 122,225 metric tons valued at $289 million.

13 December 2007

3 minute read

North America

The October increase was enough to bring the January through October total volume to 1,035,816 mt, a 1 percent increase over the same period in 2006 and a 9 percent increase in value at $2.524 billion — on track for another record-breaking year

Highlights from the latest results include:

U.S. pork production increased 11 percent in October, compared to October 2006, and October exports (not including variety meats) were equivalent to 14 percent of October production.
January through October exports to Japan, the leading market for U.S. pork, increased 9 percent in volume (296,359 mt) over last year and 13 percent in value ($953.4 million).
Mexico remains the No. 2 market despite a 25 percent year-on-year decrease in volume (221,743 mt) and a 21 percent drop in value ($362.4 million).
The Hong Kong/China region is the largest growth market this year, with exports (including variety meat) increasing 86 percent and 105 percent in volume (128,947) and value ($200.2 million) respectively in Jan.-Oct.
Canada holds its No. 3 position in value terms, with a 12 percent increase to $397.3 million, but is behind Hong Kong/China in volume at 118,414 mt (up 5 percent).
Exports to South Korea, the No. 5 market, increased 6 percent in value to $181 million despite an 8 percent decline in volume to 75,778 mt.
Exports to Russia also hit a monthly record and were nearly double the volume exported in October 2006, at 14,374 mt, putting the January through October total at 73,274 mt, a 7 percent increase over the same period last year. Although pork muscle cut exports to Russia are nearly even with last year, pork variety meat exports increased 50 percent.
Exports to Australia increased 38 percent through October and totaled 26,253 mt valued at $71.3 million. These very positive results come at the same time the Australian government has launched an investigation into whether to implement safeguard measures to protect producers from imports.
Exports to Central and South America also increased 19 percent through October, with the main growth markets of Honduras, Guatemala, and Colombia.
U.S. pork exports (including variety meat) to the Caribbean (excluding Cuba but including the Dominican Republic) increased 1 percent to 14,775 mt.
Exports to the EU increased by 68 percent, the top three destinations being France, Britain and Germany.
Exports to the ASEAN increased 45 percent to 11,216 mt, with the Philippines as the primary destination followed by Singapore and Vietnam.