February 10, 2014
US 2013 red meat exports ended on different note
In 2013, US beef exports surpassed the US$6 billion mark for the first time, setting a new annual value record, as well as pork exports also declined below 2012''s record highs while lamb sales rose in value on lower volumes.
According to USDA statistics compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), beef exports continued their surge in December, surpassing year-ago totals by nearly 13% in volume and 20% in value led by growth in sales to Japan, Mexico, Hong Kong and Central/South America. Totals for 2013 were up 3% in volume to 1.17 million tonnes and 12% in value (US$6.157 billion)- breaking the 2012 value record.
Pork exports exceeded US$6 billion for the third consecutive year, but declined 5% in volume and 4% in value behind 2012''s record pace, finishing at 2.14 million tonnes valued at US$6.05 billion. Mexico, Central/South America and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region posted strong results in December to bring the month''s totals up slightly from year-ago levels.
US lamb exports closed with double-digit increases in volume and value in December to finish the year up 7% in value (US$28.1 million) on 6% lower volume (12,332 tonnes). Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean continue to be the top lamb export markets.
USMEF president and chief executive officer Philip Seng said, "Last year, the closure of the Russian market to US red meat products and our continued absence from the dynamic beef market in the People''s Republic of China stand out. And there were challenges in other markets, ranging from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia. The industry is focused on these challenges and USMEF is targeting the markets where we have the best chance of succeeding and creating a positive return for American producers and exporters."
The new milestone for US beef export value also meant new records for the average export value per head: an annual record of US$244.96 per head of fed slaughter, up US$28.23 from 2012 and a new monthly record in December at US$279.16, up US$36.52 from December 2012.
US beef exports in 2013 equated to 13.2% of total beef production (muscle cuts plus variety meat) and 10.4% of muscle cuts alone, up from 12.7% and 9.8% last year. The totals trended up in December, reaching 14.5% and 12%, respectively.
Beef sales to Japan closed the year up 54% in volume (234,615 tonnes) and 35% in value (US$1.389 billion), pushed by a strong December showing that was more than 75% ahead of last year''s volume totals and 45% higher in value. Value totals for the year were just shy of 2003''s pre-bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) mark of US$1.391 billion, although volume was just 62.5% of the 2003 total. Based on Japan''s import data, US market share increased from 26% in 2012 to 36% in 2013, mainly regaining share from Australia.
Beef exports to Hong Kong set a new annual record as volume doubled to 130,017 tonnes and value increased 142% to US$823.3 million. Central/South America also set new milestones with 42,104 tonnes (up 24%) valued at US$156.4 million (up 17%). Mexico''s one-month beef import total of 24,402 tonnes (up 69%) was the largest volume to that country since December of 2009, helping push sales to the number two US beef export market to 216,386 tonnes (up 12%) valued at US$925.3 million (up 13%).
Strong international competition in the highest value pork export market – Japan – helped drive down US pork sales there for the year by 7% in volume and 5% in value (424,858 tonnes valued at US$1.89 billion). This is the second consecutive year of lower volumes, with declines totalling 68,455 tonnes (14%) since 2011. The lost volume to Japan alone is roughly equal to New Zealand''s total pork consumption.
Mexico set a new monthly record for December with 64,818 tonnes of US pork (up 28%) purchased for US$133.3 million (up 34%). For the year, Mexico remained the top export market in volume (625,475 tonnes, up 4%) while export value to Mexico (US$1.22 billion, up 8%) trailed only Japan. Mexico registered new record high imports for the second consecutive year.
Central/South American continued its upward trend, setting new sales records paced by strong growth in sales to Colombia, Chile and Honduras. The region closed the year up 34% in both volume and value at 121,413 tonnes valued at US$305.7 million.
The ASEAN region broke its 2010 record for US pork purchases, reaching 69,667 tonnes (up 39%) valued at US$162.5 million (up 33%), driven by strong performances in the Philippines and Singapore. For the month of December alone, export volumes to South Korea (12,902 tonnes) and Australia/New Zealand (6,552 tonnes) were the highest of the year, showing positive momentum going into 2014.
For the year, pork export value averaged US$53.95 per head – down about 3% from 2012. Exports accounted for 26% of total pork and variety meat production (22% for just muscle cuts). These ratios were similar to 2012.