June 12, 2012

 

US pork and beef export values higher this year

Pork exports from the US have risen slightly in volume (183,618 tonnes) from one year ago and 4% higher in value (US$509.2 million).

 

Pork exports through the first four months of the year are 6% higher than last year in volume (781,676 tonnes) and 16% higher in value (US$2.17 billion), according to USDA statistics compiled by the US Meat Export Federation.

 

Despite a decline of 8% in volume (94,734 tonnes) compared to last year, April was the strongest month for US beef exports in 2012. April export value totalled US$469.6 million, which is 9% higher than one year ago. US beef exports from January through April increased 6% in value to US$1.72 billion despite a 10% decline in volume (361,122 tonnes).

 

Meanwhile, on a per-head-slaughtered basis, April pork exports equated to US$57.69 – down slightly from the first quarter of this year, however, still more than one dollar higher than in April 2011. Exports equated to US$58.84 per head for the first four months of 2012.

 

April pork-muscle cut exports amounted to 24% of production - 27.7% when including both muscle cuts and variety meat. These ratios were roughly the same as April 2011 and slightly lower than the first quarter of 2012.

 

Though April was the slowest month this year for US pork exports to Mexico, volume was up 30% over April 2011 and value was 18% higher; through April, 2012 exports to Mexico increased 19% in volume (207,095 tonnes) and 18% in value (US$377.4 million) over 2011's record pace; April exports to the China/Hong Kong region were the second-largest this year, leading to results for the first four months of the year totalling one-third higher in volume (154,884 tonnes) and 84% higher in value (US$312.8 million) than the same period in 2011.

 

Although January-April exports to Japan were down slightly in volume (161,933 tonnes) from last year, they were 14% ahead of 2011's record-value pace at just under US$700 million. April exports to Russia, in 2012 were 20% higher in volume (25,903 tonnes) and 28% higher in value (US$78.7 million) than one year ago.

 

Exports to South Korea through April dropped 31% in volume (67,061 tonnes) and 20% in value (US$192.7 million) from one year ago.

 

Although US beef export volume has slowed from the record pace of 2011, higher export value has been achieved in nearly every major market. Export value per head of fed slaughter reached almost US$233 in April versus US$203.70 one year ago and averaged US$210.77 during the first four months of 2012.

 

US beef exports in April amounted to almost 14% of production when including muscle cuts and variety meat, and 11% of production for muscle cuts only.

 

April exports to Russia were the largest this year, pushing 2012 exports 20% higher in volume (24,024 tonnes) and 92% higher in value (US$100.5 million). Exports to Japan dropped 10% in volume (40,131 tonnes) through April but still achieved an 8% increase in value to US$265.4 million.

 

US lamb exports were off 31% in volume (4,243 tonnes) and 16% in value (US$8.2 million) through April, due in part to weak demand in the Caribbean. April volume (948 tonnes) dropped 55% from a year ago while value was down 48% to US$1.8 million.