Exports of U.S. pork maintained strong momentum in April, led by broad-based growth in Asian and Western Hemisphere markets, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports trended lower in April due to the impasse with China, along with year-over-year declines in other major markets.
USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom reports pork exports totaled 257,212 metric tons (mt) in April, 8% (and nearly 20,000 mt) above last year, while value increased 6% to $718.1 million. Export value per head slaughtered equated to $66.83 in April, up 7% from a year ago. April’s strong performance reflected growth in Mexico, Japan, the Dominican Republic, Central America and the Philippines.
For January through April, pork exports were 4% above the 2025 pace in both volume (1.04 million mt) and value ($2.89 billion). Export value was slightly above the total posted in the first four months of 2024, when exports went on to set an annual value record.
April beef exports totaled 89,783 mt, down 11% from a year ago, while value fell 5% to $780.6 million. While prospects are brightening for U.S. beef’s return to the China market, April results still reflected a near-total lockout. April shipments were higher than a year ago to Taiwan and Egypt and increased significantly to the Caribbean and ASEAN regions and to Peru, but trended lower to other major markets. Beef variety meats were again a bright spot in April, with exports climbing 20% from a year ago to 25,314 mt, led by growth to top volume market Mexico, valued at $114.7 million (up 40%).
April beef exports shined on a per-head basis, as export value equated to $415.88 per head of fed slaughter, up 5% from a year ago.
For January through April, beef and beef variety meat exports were 11% below the 2025 pace at 365,138 mt, and declined 5% in value to $3.13 billion. But when excluding China from these results, exports were up slightly (+0.3%) in volume and increased 7% in value.
A detailed summary of the January-April export results is available from the USMEF website.
Comments