US 2009 Feb pork exports down 13 percent

US pork exports in February dropped 13 percent yearago at 341 million pounds and cumulatively, US exporters shipped 664 million pounds of pork to foreign destinations in the first 2 months of 2009, almost 11 percent below a year ago.

While lower than last year, January-February 2009 exports however are 25 percent above the same period in 2007. The strong US dollar for most of 2008 has created strong incentives for foreign purchases of US pork, particularly to Hong Kong and China due to disease outbreaks in that area.

Currently unforeseen random foreign supply and/or demand shocks, US pork exports this year are not likely to top those of 2008. But US monetary and fiscal policies are likely to keep the US dollar valued to maintain the competitiveness of US pork products abroad.

At 4.1 billion pounds forecast for 2009, 13 percent below 2008 but 29 percent ahead of 2007, pork exports this year are expected to be strong relative to export history, but not extraordinary.