U.S. Meat Exports Are Mixed Bag
Pork exports good; beef not so lucky.
Compiled by staff
Published: Nov 17, 2009
There is some good news for the U.S. pork industry but the news for the U.S. beef industry is not good. The U.S. Meat Export Federation reports that September pork plus pork variety meat exports reached nearly 154,000 metric tons, valued at $347.8 million. Based on statistics released by USDA, that's the highest volume since April of 2009, but September beef plus beef variety meat exports were down slightly from August, with the January-September cumulative total falling further behind last year's pace. Beef exports continue to struggle amid market access restrictions and difficult global economic conditions.
There are some bright spots this year in pork trade including a continued strong performance in Mexico and Japan as well as renewed strength in Canada, Russia and the Greater China region. Mexico's September volume surpassed last year's by nearly 37%. So far this year Mexico has purchased $547.7 million worth of U.S. pork.
September beef plus beef variety meat exports were down 25% in volume and 34% in value from September of 2008, bringing the cumulative total for the year to 660,459 metric tons, valued at $2.28 billion. This is 12% below last year's pace in volume and 17% lower in value. Much of the decline is attributable to the weak global market for beef variety meat. Beef exports to Japan are 22% higher in volume and 21% higher in value than last year. September exports continued to outperform 2008, but at a slightly slower pace due to the seasonal decline in availability of slaughter-ready cattle under 21 months of age.
USMEF also reports that U.S. lamb exports closed the third quarter at a very solid pace, fueled by continued strong performance in the Caribbean and a surge in exports to Mexico. January-September lamb plus lamb variety meat exports reached 8,344 metric tons, which already exceeds the volume achieved in the entire calendar year of 2008. The export value of $21.1 million is 12% ahead of last year's pace.
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