Posted Jan. 21, 2013

U.S. pork exports for the first 11 months of 2012 continued to exceed the record-setting pace of 2011, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Jan. 11.

With only one month yet to be recorded for 2012, pork exports continue to top 2011 levels by 2 percent in volume (2,075,974 mt) and 5 percent in value ($5.8 billion), while totals for November declined 7.7 percent in volume and 5.4 percent in value versus last year. It is important to note, however, that November 2011 ranks as the second-best month in history (behind October 2012) for U.S. pork exports.

Mexico continues to perform as the United States’ top pork volume destination, with November’s totals up 7.2 percent in volume and 4.6 percent in value, pushing the 11-month totals to 550,408 mt (up 15 percent) valued at just over $1 billion (up 11 percent).

Although exports to Japan are trailing 2011 volume, they could still eclipse the $2 billion mark this year, with value up 3 percent through November and volume down 6 percent.

Other top pork markets in November were Canada (up 15.3 percent in volume and 17.1 percent in value), South Korea (up 26.4 percent in volume and 8.5 percent in value), Russia (up 100 percent in volume and 78.7 percent in value), and Central/South America (up 21.1 percent in volume and 10 percent in value).

Year-to-date, U.S. pork exports account for 27 percent of total production (23.5 percent for just muscle cuts) and the per-head export value is $56.12 – up 3 percent from last year.

Editor’s notes:

·   Export statistics refer to both muscle cuts and variety meat unless otherwise noted

·   One metric ton (mt) = 2,204.622 pounds