Sluggish growth for US pork exports seen this year

US pork exports are seen to ease this year and may not experience big increases like in the past, according to an agricultural economist.

It will however continue to play a vital role in the industry in 2009, says Steve Meyer PhD and president of Paragon Economics. US pork exports in November were up only 0.5 percent from year earlier levels and Meyer doubts exports will grow by 50 percent as in they have recently.

The economist also points to concerns in exports to the China-Hong Kong market which were down by 80 percent from their peak in June 2008.

Meyer however remains hopeful that the industry may be able to hold exports together and even "keep our string of record exports together in 2009" as US pork enjoys a "sparkling reputation" in the global market. Japan, for example, remains a steady and important customer as the leading market for US pork.

Meyer forecasts slaughter levels will decline by 3 percent in 2009 from the total slaughter of 116.5 million head reached in 2008.