U.S. beef and pork exports set new value records in May, according to the latest data released by USDA. Beef exports topped $900 million for the first time ($904.3 million) while also setting a new volume record at 133,440 metric tons (mt). Pork exports exceeded $800 million for the first time at $813.2 million, while volume was the third largest on record at 283,617 mt.
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom notes that record-large exports to South Korea set the pace for U.S. beef, along with strong performances in Japan, China and Latin America. Exports to Japan bounced back from the impact of a higher safeguard tariff rate imposed from mid-March to mid-April.
Pork exports increased from year-ago levels despite a significant drop in exports to China, where domestic pork production is rebounding from the effects of African swine fever (ASF) and demand for imported pork is trending lower. Halstrom explains that strong growth to Mexico, Japan, Central America, Colombia and the Philippines more than offset the decline to China, underscoring the importance of export market diversification.
Strong variety meat demand also helped drive exports to new heights in May. In recent months the tight labor situation at processing plants has made capturing and exporting variety meat items more challenging, and this remains a significant concern for the U.S. industry. But in May, pork variety meat exports jumped 42% from a year ago to 50,000 mt, with value reaching nearly $125 million (up 62%). Beef variety meat exports were the largest since 2019 at 28,347 mt, up 65% from a year ago. Export value was $91.3 million, up 72% and the third highest on record.
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