March 16, 2010

 

January US beef exports up from year-ago while pork dips

 

 

US total beef exports in January, including beef variety meats, were up in volume and value from a year ago, while international pork sales were down from the same period in 2009.

 

While beef exports are off to a good start at up 9% in volume and 6% in value from the same period in 2009, January shipments were down from December by about 6% in volume and 5% in value, according to the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF). The January sales volume for total beef was also 3% below the 2009 monthly average.

 

Mexico was the largest international customer for US beef and beef variety meats in January but sales dipped 24% from a year ago. Canada ranked second largest and showed a 21% gain in volume from January 2009. These two markets combined accounted for nearly 44% of the total volume shipped.

 

Other markets where beef sales grew in January, compared with a year ago, and offset the shortfall to Mexico, included the Middle East, Japan, Taiwan, Russia and Hong Kong/China. Several other countries had gains as well.

 

USMEF president and CEO Phil Seng said that beef exports are off to a better start to 2010 than they were last year when the economic climate was just brutal. But in coming weeks, focus is on reclaiming the momentum established late in the year with holiday marketing campaigns and other beef promotions.

 

The export value of beef and beef variety meats per steer and heifer slaughtered was just under US$119, and exports account for about 10% of beef and beef variety meat production, USMEF said.

 

In the pork sector, January export sales volume and value were up 8%, respectively, from 2009. Sales to Mexico, the top customer by volume, were up 12% in volume and 27% in value.

 

Pork sales to Japan, however, were down 34% in volume and 27% in value. About 22% of US pork and pork variety meat production was exported in 2009, worth US$37.37 per head slaughtered, USMEF said.