2009 Good Year for U.S. Meat Exports
Exports ready to start new year on upward trend.
Compiled by staff
Published: Feb 19, 2010
Based on statistics it compiled the U.S. Meat Export Federation projects that both beef and pork exports are primed to start 2010 on an upward trend. U.S. red meat exports finished 2009 on a positive note with healthy gains in volume over December of a year ago. Although 2009 year-end exports of both U.S. pork and beef were down compared to the prior year, U.S. exports equaled or bettered their main international competitors.
U.S. pork exports closed the year with an 8% jump in volume and 6% in value for the month of December compared to year-ago totals. For the calendar year, pork exports registered the second-highest total in history. U.S. pork exports outpaced the performance of global competitors, which, based on available data, slumped 15% in value for the year, led by a 22% drop for European Union pork producers.
The story was similar for U.S. beef exports, which rose 9% in volume and 4% in value for the month of December compared to 2008. For all of 2009, global beef export value fell 16%, with Brazil's export value tumbling 23% and Australia's falling 18.5%. U.S. beef exports for all of 2009 slipped 9% in volume and 15% in value compared to 2008.
U.S. lamb muscle cut exports set a new value record of $21.9 million in 2009, breaking the previous year's mark by 2%. Combined lamb plus lamb variety meat exports fell just short of the 2006 value record of $27.75 million. The Caribbean remained the leading value market for U.S. lamb. But exports to Mexico tripled in value over 2008, rising to $8.13 million.
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