December 20 2016

US pork, beef exports post strong growths in Oct

US pork and beef exports achieved double-digit increases in October from a year ago, data released by the US Department of Agriculture and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (Usmef) showed.

October pork exports totalled 201,936 tonnes, up 14% year-on-year and the largest monthly volume since March 2014. Export value was $521.1 million, up 16%. For January through October, export volume was 6% above last year's at 1.86 million tonnes, while export value was up 3% to $4.79 billion.

Exports accounted for 25.5% of total pork production in October. For January-October, exports accounted for 25% of total production—up a full percentage point from a year ago. 

Beef exports

October beef export volume was 105,938 tonne, up 12% from a year ago, while export value climbed 10% to $559.5 million. For January through October, export volume was up 9% from a year ago at 954,868 tonnes, while value was down 3% to $5.1 billion. 

Beef exports accounted for 14% of total production in October. January-October ratio was just over 13%, up slightly from the same period last year. 

"With pork production at a record level and beef production also on the rise, it is imperative that we work to expand global demand and accelerate the volume of product entering the international markets," said Philip Seng, Usmef president and CEO.

"With strong support from USDA, our US industry partners and our international contacts, Usmef has intensified its marketing efforts in key destinations and capitalised on opportunities to regain market share—not only in mainstay markets such as Japan, Mexico and South Korea, but in a wide range of countries. This has laid the groundwork for a strong finish to this year and further growth in 2017", he added.

Lamb exports