Strong expansion in US pork muscle cuts in February

 

 

Both US beef and pork exports grew in February, with strong expansion in muscle cuts leading the way in both, according to statistics released by the USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

 

The monthly value of total US beef exports (muscle cuts and variety meat) jumped 14.5% compared to one year ago to reach US$252.5 million, while tonnage climbed 8.6% to 71,843 tonnes.

 

Pork exports for the month moved up slightly over one year ago, increasing 2.6% in value to US$377.6 million and just under 1% in volume to 159,331 tonnes.

 

Pork exports in February accounted for 25% of total US pork production, equating to nearly US$44 per head, up from US$37.37 per head just last month. On the beef side, exports remained steady at 10% of production but the value edged up to US$123 per head of steer and heifer slaughter from US$119 in January.

 

Mexico emerged as a solid No. 1 destination for US pork in 2009, and that growth continues in 2010 with a 9% hike in volume to 99,768 tonnes in January and February valued at US$173 million – a 24% jump.

 

According to traders, in January-February, the pork cutout averaged more than US$70/cwt, which was about 24% higher than last year.

 

Marketing of domestic pork in Japan's current fiscal year (data available for April 2009 through January 2010) is up 7% while marketing of imported pork is down nearly 14%.

 

US pork muscle cut exports to Japan recovered in February, up 21% from January but still off 8.5% from last year. For the first two months of 2010, exports were down 17% at 59,896 tonnes valued at US$233.5 million, a decrease of 15%.

 

The US continues to dominate in the high-value chilled pork market, earning a 73% market share – down only 1% from last year. Canada and Denmark each gained mainly in frozen market share as the overall US share of total imports slipped from 48% last year to 43%.