April 11, 2018

 

US pork, beef, lamb exports in February above year-ago levels

 

 

US pork, beef and lamb exports in February were higher than in the same month last year in both volume and value, according to statistics released by the US Department of Agriculture and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

 

Pork exports totalled 205,466 tonnes in February, up 4% from last year, while export value increased 12% to $547.2 million.

 

In the first two months, pork exports were 2% more than last year, at 408,934 tonnes, while export value climbed 10% to $1.09 billion.

 

February exports accounted for 27.8% of total pork production, up from 27.6% a year ago. In the first two months, the percentage of total pork production exported was slightly lower year-on-year at 26.1%.

 

Beef exports

 

Beef exports in February were up 11% compared with the same month last year to 100,593 tonnes, while export value increased 18% to $599.8 million. Although this was the lowest monthly value total since May 2017, it is the highest on record for the month of February.

 

January-February volume was 206,079 tonnes, up 10% from the first two months of 2017, while export value was up 20% from the same period last year, at $1.22 billion.

 

Exports in February accounted for 13.6% of total beef production, up one full percentage point from a year ago.

 

In the two months through February, beef exports accounted for 13% of total production (up from 12.4%).

 

"Red meat exports are off to a strong start in 2018 and continue to deliver excellent returns for US producers", said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "The outstanding level of export value per head slaughtered is especially encouraging at a time in which US meat production is high and the trade climate is somewhat volatile".

 

In February, lamb export volume climbed 85% from a year ago to 899 tonnes - the highest since May 2017. Export value was $1.85 million, up 42% and the highest since March 2017.

 

Through February, lamb exports were 55% higher year-on-year in volume (1,639 tonnes) and up 24% in value ($3.33 million), led by growth in Mexico, the Philippines, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.