TL;DR: US pork and beef exports remained strong in February, with pork growing globally and beef value increasing despite tight supplies. Lamb exports also rose, led by the Bahamas and Canada.
DENVER — This February, US pork exports stayed robust, supported by growth in various regions including the Western Hemisphere, South Korea, and Australia. The data, provided by the US Department of Agriculture and analysed by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), also highlights an increase in the value of beef exports despite a slight drop in volume.
Pork exports witnessed a 14% rise from the previous year, reaching 250,930 metric tonnes, with the value going up by 15% to $685.1 million. Mexico leads as the biggest market, showing numbers well above the previous year’s record. Notably, there’s an uptick in shipments to Korea, Central and South America, Oceania, and the Caribbean.
Dan Halstrom, USMEF president, shared his enthusiasm about the ongoing momentum for pork exports. “After a record value year, seeing the growth in diverse markets is promising,” he commented. Growth is notable in Colombia, Chile, El Salvador, and the Caribbean. Moreover, Korea and Australia are showing a remarkable recovery in demand.
Beef exports totalled 103,883 metric tonnes in February, a slight 1% decrease year-over-year, but the export value saw a 10% increase to $830.4 million. The Caribbean experienced its largest beef exports on record for February, with Mexico and other Central and South American countries showing a continuous upward trend.
Halstrom pointed out the challenge of tight beef supplies but remained positive about the opportunities for less-utilised beef cuts in global markets. There’s a strong demand across the Western Hemisphere, and the foodservice and hospitality sectors in Asia, especially Korea, are gaining momentum post-COVID.
US lamb exports also showed strength, increasing 11% from the previous year to 270 metric tonnes, with an 18% rise in export value to $1.5 million. The Bahamas, the Leeward-Windward Islands, and Canada led this growth, despite a slight decrease in exports to Mexico. However, the value in Mexico still rose by 26% to just under $600,000.
