April 10, 2009

US pork exports in February declined nearly 10 percent from a year ago, but the total pork figure, which includes variety meats, gained slightly from 2008.

The USDA's February meat-export data, released Thursday (Apr 9), showed pork-meat exports at 116,629 tonnes, compared with 129,183 tonnes a year ago. Through the first two months, pork-meat exports were 7 percent off the year-ago pace. The largest declines came from sales to China/Hong Kong and Russia, while the biggest annual gains happened in shipments to Mexico and Japan.

For total pork, international year-to-date sales were up three percent by volume and six percent in value. Total pork sales for the first two months came in at US$728.4 million.

Industry analysts and economists have predicted a sales drop to China/Hong Kong because domestic pork production there has increased in recent months, while the economic crisis has slowed demand.

The US Meat Export Federation's Web site showed exports of beef-muscle meats and total beef, including variety meats, in February grew modestly from 2008. January-February beef meat sales climbed 11 percent by volume and value, while total beef export volume added two percent. Value was three percent higher.

Total beef sales value through February was US$453.5 million. The largest volume and value gains came from sales to South Korea and Vietnam.