April 14, 2011
 

US beef and pork exports are increasingly going overseas

Beef and pork exports from the US is experiencing a continuing trend of having more national production going overseas which in turn results in more money returning to the US, according to the US Meat Export Federation.

Some 27% of US pork production in February was sold outside the US and incremental value reached US$51.48/head, compared with 25.2% and US$43.81, respectively, on year. Total pork exports jumped 15% in value and 8% in volume over February 2010 levels.

US beef exports in February, meanwhile, accounted for 13% of total production and incremental value of per-head fed cattle slaughter reached US$182.12, compared with 10.6% and US$126.50, respectively, in February 2010. Total beef exports were up 47.2% in value and 25% in volume over year-ago levels.

Export of US pork in February reached 172,022 tonnes valued at US$434.4 million. For the first two months of the year, totals were 337,160 tonnes valued at US$831 million, up 11% in volume and 17% in value. Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong/China, South Korea and Canada remain the top five export markets for US pork.

US beef exports in February reached 89,787 tonnes valued at US$371.7 million. Through the first two months of 2011 totals were 179,460 tonnes valued at US$727.3 million, up 24% in volume and 45% in value. Mexico, South Korea, Canada, the Middle East and Japan were the top five markets for US beef.