July 20, 2022

US pork exports increase to Mexico and the Dominican Republic

The US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said US pork exports to the Dominican Republic is expanding dramatically, with May exports more than doubling from a year ago and year-to-date shipments running 40% faster than last year's record pace, even though Mexico remains the top market for American pork, DRGNews reported.

USMEF also said pork exports in May 2022 were the highest this year in both volume at 224,677 metric tonnes, and value at US$655.1 million.

Lucia Ruano, the USMEF representative in Central America and the Dominican Republic, said while there is a high demand for pork in the Dominican Republic, domestic production there has been affected by African swine fever (ASF), which was first identified in the country last summer.

In the Dominican Republic, there is an increasing demand for premium pork cuts. USMEF promotes American pork as a cost-effective option for hotels and restaurants, which are benefiting from a significant uptick in tourist traffic, with the help of USDA and the National Pork Board. Additionally, US pork is a popular product in the Dominican Republic's retail industry, which is expanding quickly.

-      DRGNews