U.S. Beef and Pork Export Market Sluggish
Variety meats are holding down total exports.
Compiled by staff
Published: Mar 15, 2010
USDA statistics indicate the pace of U.S. beef and pork exports cooled somewhat in January. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says muscle cut exports held up fairly well but total exports were held down by a very sluggish market for variety meat.
Beef plus beef variety meat exports were 9% higher in volume and 6% higher in value than in January 2009. Beef muscle cuts fared even better, rising 16% in volume and 15% in value. However, these totals represented a decline from December 2009 and were also lower than the 2009 monthly average. Beef variety meat exports were down only 4% in volume but plummeted 26% in value compared to January 2009.
Pork plus pork variety meat exports were 8% lower in both volume and value than in January 2009, but variety meat also weighed heavily on these results. Muscle cuts fell only 4% in volume and 5% in value, while variety meat exports declined 18% in both categories.
U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Philip Seng says beef exports are off to a better start to 2010 than they were last year.
"Our focus is on reclaiming the momentum we had established late in the year," Seng said. "As for pork, the U.S. is still the market leader in Japan, and this market is still performing at a very high level."
A notable increase in domestic pork production last year is pressuring the Japanese market this year. Also, exports to Canada and Mexico are gaining momentum.
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