Through the first five months of the year, pork exports exceeded last year’s record pace by 6 per cent in volume (968,485 metric tons) and 15 per cent in value ($2.7 billion).

Pork export value surges in most major markets

With the exceptions of South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines, US pork export value is trending upward to every major destination. Exports to Korea were extremely high in 2011, due in part to a foot-and-mouth disease-related shortage of domestic pork and temporary duty-free access for a large volume of imports. US exports to Korea through May stood at 77,790 metric tons valued at $222.8 million, down 32 per cent in volume and 19 per cent in value from last year’s record pace, but still far exceeding exports in the first five months of any previous year.

Mexico continues to perform well as the leading volume destination for US pork, and ranks No. 2 in value. While May exports to Mexico were about even with last year, exports through the first five months of the year were 15 per cent higher in volume (254,059 metric tons) and 13 per cent higher in value ($463.6 million). USMEF recently launched a campaign to build overall demand in Mexico by enhancing the image of pork and broadening its appeal among Mexican consumers.

“USMEF has reached agreements with several major supermarket chains in Mexico – totaling more than 500 outlets – to help USMEF promote pork through advertising and point-of-sale materials and to collect important sales data for evaluating the effectiveness of the campaign,“ explained USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “Per capita pork consumption in Mexico is only about 25 pounds per year, compared to 47 pounds in the United States. So we feel there is still great potential for expansion of overall demand, with the US industry positioned to be the primary beneficiary.“

Japan remains the leading value destination for US pork, with exports through May reaching $869.1 million. This is 10 per cent above last year’s record pace, despite a 5 per cent decline in volume (199,061 metric tons).

Other pork highlights for January-May 2012 include:

• Despite an upswing in domestic pork supplies and a softening of the hog market in China, exports to the China/Hong Kong region were up 34 per cent in volume (192,926 metric tons) and 83 per cent in value ($389.2 million).
  
  
• Exports to Canada were up 14 per cent in volume (91,424 metric tons) and 19 per cent in value ($328.7 million).
  
  
• In the first year under a new quota system, exports to Russia are off to an excellent start – 35 per cent higher in both volume (39,132 metric tons) and value ($115 million).
  
  
• In the Central and South America region, where US pork and beef are currently on display at the USMEF Latin American Product Showcase in Bogota, Colombia, pork exports were up 13 per cent in volume (33,266 metric tons) and 16 per cent in value ($85 million). This expansion was led by growth in Colombia, where exports were up 62 per cent in volume (5,596 metric tons) and more than doubled in value ($15.9 million).
  
  
• The controversy over beta agonists continues to create a difficult business climate in Taiwan, where pork exports were down 45 per cent in volume (8,108 metric tons) and 29 per cent in value ($18.2 million). Larger domestic supplies have also impacted this market, as Taiwan’s pork imports from all sources are down nearly 40 per cent this year.