July 20, 2006

US hog imports from Canada up 8 percent from 2005

Live hog shipments into the US from Canada are up 8.4 percent from the same period last year but about 2.4 percent below the record pace of 2004.

The US Department of Agriculture's latest weekly report for livestock imports from Canada released Wednesday (Jul 19) shows that the largest gain by far this year has been in feeder pigs. USDA showed the year-to-date figure for this category at nearly 3.108 million head, up about 352,000 head, or 12.8 percent, from last year. Slaughter hogs along with sows and boars for slaughter are about the same as a year ago.

The latest import figures, for the period ended Jul 15, revealed a total of 160,232 head, which was very near the year-to-date weekly average of 160,623.

At the current rate, imported hogs and pigs from Canada make up about 8 percent of US hog slaughter.

Last year's total for hog and pig imports from Canada was 8.049 million head. In 2004, which was a record, the total was nearly 8.528 million.

If the current weekly pace continues through the balance of the year, imports for 2006 would be projected around 8.330 million.