January 23, 2007

US pork exports set another record in 2006

Even without December numbers, US pork exports set a record in 2006 for the 15th year in a row.

Exports totalled 2.72 billion pounds of pork (carcass weight equivalent), during the first 11 months of 2006, an increase of 2 percent from 2005, according to US Swine Economics Report.

Once figures from December exports, which are not yet available, are added in, US pork exports is expected to be 12 percent higher than in 2005, double the total exported in 2000, and six times the export total of 1993.

Not only was 2006 a record year, but November was a record month for US pork exports as exports during this month totalled 293.6 million pounds, 3 percent more than the previous record month.

It is expected that 2007 would be the 16th consecutive record year for US pork exports.

That points to great opportunities and growth for the US pork trade.

The big growth markets for US pork exports in 2006 were Russia, South Korea and Mexico. These three countries account for over 90 percent of the increase in US pork exports during Jan-Nov.

Incidentally, the number of live hogs imported from Canada during the first 11 months of 2006 was up 8 percent compared to Jan-Nov 2005 with 12 percent more feeder pigs being imported but 1 percent fewer hogs brought south.