Pork Exports Achieved 2010 Highs in November

January 26, 2011 — 

November exports of U.S. pork reached the highest monthly volumes in more than two years, according to results compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Pork exports totaled 177,203 metric tons valued at $443.4 million - increases of 5 percent in volume and 15 percent in value over November 2009. For January through November, exports were up 2 percent in volume at 1.73 million metric tons and 10 percent in value at $4.34 billion. The cumulative value total is just 4 percent below the all-time record pace set in the first 11 months of 2008. For the year, exports accounted for 23.6 percent of production with a per-head value equivalent of $43.61 ($44.80 in November alone). For the same period in 2009, exports equated to 22.5 percent of production with a per-head value of $38.42. In the record export year of 2008, the per-head value was $42.30.

January-November exports to Japan, the leading value destination for U.S. Pork, broke the $1.5 billion mark for the third consecutive year, exceeding the previous year's pace by 6 percent. In terms of volume, 397,528 metric tons, exports to Japan are up 2 percent. Mexico is the leading volume destination at 491,314 metric tons - up 9 percent and just short of the single-year record. Export value to Mexico has already set a new record of $890.6 million.

Pork exports to Canada for the year are up 7 percent in volume at 164,767 metric tons and 18 percent in value at $562.6 million. Despite a down year for Vietnam, exports to the ASEAN region - led by strong results in the Philippines and Singapore - are up 19 percent in volume at 62,006 metric tons and 32 percent in value at $125.1 million. Other market highlights include:

• For the China/Hong Kong region, January-November exports were 11 percent higher in volume at 254,554 metric tons and 7 percent higher in value at $405.8 million.
• Exports to Russia were down for the year, but U.S. Pork got off to a slow start in 2010 due to very limited market access. November export volume at 11,214 metric tons was still lower than in 2009 but value at $31.76 million was actually higher. With nearly 59,000 metric tons of muscle cut exports, the U.S. has filled its 2010 quota at 57,500 metric tons.
• Exports to Australia set a new single-year record in both volume at 48,673 metric tons, up 8 percent and value $136.9 million, up 27 percent.
• Latin American markets continue to perform very well, with exports to Central and South America up 32 percent in volume at 54,123 metric tons and 41 percent in value at $128.5 million. Exports to the Caribbean were up 7 percent in volume at 39,780 metric tons and 20 percent in value at $85.2 million.

Source: Pork Checkoff's Pork Leader