Exports to the Dominican Republic are on a record pace through July, totalling 60,518 mt (up 26% from a year ago) valued at $163.4 million (up 34%), according to data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. 

Brazil was recently granted access for a few pork establishments, adding to competition from the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union. 

However, the US is the Dominican Republic’s dominant pork supplier and the only one with zero-duty access through a free trade agreement.

July pork export value equated to $65.38 per head slaughtered, down 3% from a year ago, while the January-July average increased 8% to $64.07. 

Exports accounted for 30.3% of total July pork production, up one percentage point from a year ago. 

For muscle cuts only, exports accounted for 25.5% of production, up from 24.7%. For January through July, these ratios were 29.9% of total production and 25.6% for muscle cuts, up from 26.8% and 23.6%, respectively, a year ago.