December 11, 2013
US beef, pork exports up in October
The statistics released by the USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation revealed that US beef exports continued an upward trend in October while pork exports returned a strong performance.
October pork exports were the largest of the year on a value basis at US$539.9 million and second-largest on volume at 186,637 tonnes, though it did not exceed record 2012 levels.
As beefmarkets in Japan, Hong Kong and Mexico are booming, overall, October US beef exports reached 107,471 tonnes valued at US$564.5 million, increases of 6% and nearly 14%, respectively.
Both the ASEAN and the Central and South America region recorded double-digit increases, as they have all year, but other key markets trailed 2012''s historic highs.
US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) says October export numbers are showing strength. "The ebbs and flows of export markets require us to make continual adjustments," said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. "For example, Japan remains the US'' top value market for pork exports, but relentless competition from other international suppliers is making it tougher for us to maintain our market share."
Seng also noted while the US Congress continues to debate budget cuts that could affect spending on programmes like the Market Access Programme and Foreign Market Development programme that support US agricultural exports, the European Commission has proposed more than tripling its spending to support EU agricultural and agri-food sector products.
US beef sales continue to rise to higher levels brought about by the increased exports to leading markets Japan and Mexico – along with sharp increases in sales to Hong Kong, USMEF said. Exports for the year are expected to easily top 2012''s record value of US$5.51 billion.
Export value per head of fed slaughter averaged US$251.06 in October, up US$29 from last year. Exports accounted for 11% of muscle cuts and 13.5% of total beef exports (muscle cuts plus variety meat) for the month, up from 10% and 12.6%, respectively, last year.
Top markets include Japan (up 40% in volume), Mexico (up 53% in volume), South Korea, and Central/South America. Exports to Hong Kong were up a whopping 148% in volume and 184% in value.
US pork export value in October averaged US$51.79/head, down 7% from last year. Exports accounted for 20% of pork muscle cuts and nearly 24% of total pork production, compared to 23% and 27.4% last year.
October sales to Japan slipped nearly 8% in value, while Mexico, the leading volume market for US pork, dipped 2% in volume. Other regions were down on volume, including: China/Hong Kong (down nearly 6%), Canada (down 7%), and South Korea (down 60%).
Top markets included Central/South America (up more than 23%), and ASEAN (up more than 17%).
Lamb exports in October were down to top market Mexico, but increased for next-largest markets Canada and the Caribbean. For the month they equalled 855 tonnes, down 36.5%, while the value of exports dipped 11.7% to nearly US$2.2 million. For the year, lamb exports remain up 7% in value at US$23.6 million on 7% lower volumes.