Pork exports totalled 177,203 metric tons valued at $443.4 million – increases of five per cent in volume and 15 per cent in value over November 2009. For the period January to November, exports were up two per cent in volume (1.73 million metric tons) and 10 per cent in value ($4.34 billion). The cumulative value total is just four per cent below the all-time record pace set in the first 11 months of 2008. For the year, exports accounted for 23.6 per cent of production with a per-head value equivalent of $43.61 ($44.80 in November alone). For the same period in 2009, exports equated to 22.5 per cent of production with a per-head value of $38.42. In the record export year of 2008, the per-head value was $42.30.

Beef export value in November was $389.5 million, an increase of nearly 50 per cent over November 2009. By volume (101,323 metric tons), beef exports exceeded the year-ago level by 32 per cent. For the first 11 months of 2010, exports were 18 per cent above 2009 in terms of volume (964,369 metric tons) and 30 per cent higher by value ($3.67 billion). The value total is about one per cent ahead of the 2003 pace when beef exports went on to set a single-year record of $3.86 billion. Exports accounted for 11.6 per cent of production with a per-head value equivalent of $150.36 ($178. 20 in November) – up dramatically from the 2009 totals of 9.8 per cent and $117.80.

"November was clearly one of the best months on record for US meat exports," said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. "With economies improving throughout the world, US pork and beef are well-positioned for strong growth. We worked through some very difficult economic circumstances in 2009 but we're now seeing those persistent marketing efforts pay big dividends as exports are adding more and more value to every animal produced."

Mexico, Canada, ASEAN post big gains for pork, while Japan still shines in terms of value

January-November exports to Japan, the leading value destination for US pork, broke the $1.5 billion mark for the third consecutive year, exceeding the previous year's pace by six per cent. In terms of volume (397,528 metric tons), exports to Japan are up two per cent. Mexico is the leading volume destination at 491,314 metric tons – up nine per cent and just short of the single-year record. Export value to Mexico has already set a new record of $890.6 million.

Pork exports to Canada for the year are up seven per cent in volume (164,767 metric tons) and 18 per cent in value ($562.6 million). Despite a down year for Viet Nam, exports to the ASEAN region – led by strong results in the Philippines and Singapore – are up 19 per cent in volume (62,006 metric tons) and 32 per cent in value ($125.1 million).

Other market highlights include:

• For the China/Hong Kong region, January-November exports were 11 per cent higher in volume (254,554 metric tons) and seven per cent higher in value ($405.8 million). Exports to China were up significantly over 2009 but US pork was absent for much of that year due to A-H1N1 influenza restrictions. Exports to Hong Kong were lower, offsetting some of the gains in China.
  
  
• Exports to Russia were down for the year but US pork got off to a slow start in 2010 due to very limited market access. November export volume (11,214 metric tons) was still lower than in 2009 but value ($31.76 million) was actually higher. With nearly 59,000 metric tons of muscle cut exports, the US has filled its 2010 quota (57,500 metric tons).
  
  
• Exports to Australia set a new single-year record in both volume (48,673 metric tons, up eight per cent) and value $136.9 million (up 27 per cent).
  
  
• Latin American markets continue to perform very well, with exports to Central and South America up 32 per cent in volume (54,123 metric tons) and 41 per cent in value ($128.5 million). Free trade agreements have helped boost exports to the leading markets of Honduras and Guatemala and strong growth to Colombia could also be accelerated through approval of a pending FTA. Exports to the Caribbean were up seven per cent in volume (39,780 metric tons) and 20 per cent in value ($85.2 million).