U.S. pork and beef exports slowed slightly in April when compared to the all-time record highs of the previous month, but still performed well above last year’s pace. April pork exports reached 181,109 metric tons valued at $487.8 million – up 16 percent in volume and 22 percent in value over last year. April beef exports totaled 103,213 metric tons valued at $429.7 million – increases of 25 percent and 38 percent, respectively, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
On a cumulative basis through April, 2011 pork exports were 18 percent ahead of last year’s pace in volume (735,294 metric tons) and 24 percent higher in value ($1.87 billion). Beef exports were up 30 percent in volume (399,748 metric tons) and 48 percent in value ($1.63 billion).
Japan remained the leading value market for U.S. pork by a wide margin, with year-to-date exports up 17 percent in both volume (163,775 metric tons) and value ($616.5 million). These increases are particularly impressive considering last year’s full-year export value record to Japan of more than $1.65 billion.
South Korea, which has seen its domestic pork production devastated this year by foot-and-mouth disease, had the sharpest growth in U.S. pork demand for the first four months of 2011, with U.S. exports to Korea up 187 percent in volume (97,357 metric tons) and 245 percent in value ($239.8 million). Exports to the China/Hong Kong region were also up impressively through April, increasing 38 percent in volume (117,717 metric tons) and 26 percent in value ($170.4 million).
Other pork market highlights for the first four months of 2011 include: