August 25, 2020

US frozen pork inventories in July drop to lowest level in nine years

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said frozen pork supplies in the United States dropped to its lowest level in a month in nine years even though meatpacking facilities have resumed operations, Reuters reported. 

According to USDA's monthly report, US cold storage facilities currently hold 458.902 million pounds of pork, including ribs, loins and hams at end-July. This is lower than June's 460.173 million and July 2019's 611.692 million.

The report showed that pork is high in demand, but supplies aren't as high as prior years because temporary meat plant shutdowns meant reduced supplies.

At the same time, China said it had imported its highest volume of pork in July.

Pork belly supplies was 20% down at 42.352 million pounds at end-July, compared to July 2019's 52.647 million pounds.

Meat processors in the US have been targeted for boosting meat exports to China even after reporting domestic shortages in April. This was when domestic meat plants were temporarily shut down due to COVID-19 outbreaks among workers.

US President Donald Trump issued an executive order to maintain operations at meat plants on April 28, but the plants said many of its workers have not reported to work.

USDA data showed exports to China were 45,132 tonnes of fresh, chilled or frozen pork muscle cuts between July 3 to July 28. Data from China showed 430,000 tonnes of pork were imported from all global sources.

-      Reuters