Both U.S. beef and U.S. pork exports are on a record pace through September 2021, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports posted one of the best months on record in September 2021, with value climbing nearly 60 percent above last year. Pork export volume was slightly below last September 2021, but value still increased 8 percent.

Beef exports continued to soar in September 2021 at 123,628 metric tons (mt), up 20 percent from a year ago and the fourth largest volume of the post-BSE era. Export value jumped 59 percent to $954.1 million—the second highest month on record, trailing only August 2021. For the first three quarters of 2021, beef exports increased 18 percent from a year ago to 1.08 million mt, valued at $7.58 billion—up more than $2 billion (36 percent) from the same period last year. Compared to the record year of 2018, January to September 2021 exports were 7 percent higher in volume and up 24 percent in value.

Pork exports totaled 219,687 mt in September 2021, down 1 percent from a year ago, but value was 8 percent higher at $608.3 million. For January through September 2021, exports were 1 percent above last year’s record pace at 2.24 million mt, while value climbed 9 percent to $6.23 billion.

“Facing significant logistical headwinds and higher costs, these outstanding results are really a testament to the loyalty and strong demand from our international customers and to the innovation and determination of the U.S. industry,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom.

Variety meat exports a bright spot in 2021

Halstrom explained that a rebound in pork and beef variety meat exports, which took a step back last year amid COVID-related production obstacles, has been a strong source of momentum in 2021, reflecting exceptional global demand for high-value protein.

“The increase in the variety meat capture rate, and the resulting increase in exports, is especially encouraging because the labor and transportation challenges certainly have not gone away,” Halstrom explained. “But these items are commanding a strong premium overseas, making it more feasible to get them into international commerce. Variety meat exports are a great complement to our strong domestic and international demand for muscle cuts, helping maximize carcass value.”

China’s demand for U.S. pork variety meat has remained strong even as muscle cut exports to China have eased, helping push total January to September 2021 pork variety meat exports 17 percent above last year to 405,744 mt, valued at $949.1 million (up 26 percent). Beef variety meat exports, led by strong increases in Japan, Mexico, Central and South America, and the ASEAN region, were 10 percent above last year at 226,755 mt, with value up 19 percent to $762.2 million.

Beef exports on pace to top $2 billion in three Asian markets

Beef exports to leading market Japan posted a strong performance in September 2021 at just under 30,000 mt, up 24 percent from a year ago, valued at $215.8 million (up 73 percent). This pushed January to September 2021 results 5 percent above last year at 246,380 mt, valued at $1.72 billion (up 17 percent).

Japan, South Korea and China/Hong Kong are all on track to be $2 billion destinations for U.S. beef in 2021, with strong growth in chilled beef exports to Japan and Korea. Through September 2021, chilled beef exports to Japan neared 120,000 mt, up 17 percent, with value up 25 percent to $1 billion. Chilled exports to Korea were up 25 percent in volume (65,600 mt) and 50 percent in value ($744 million).

Total September 2021 beef exports to Korea were 23,363 mt, up 9 percent from a year ago, while value soared 67 percent to $207.5 million. Through the third quarter, exports to Korea were up 12 percent in volume (213,326 mt) and 30 percent in value ($1.71 billion). COVID-related restrictions on restaurants and other foodservice outlets were recently eased in both Japan and Korea, which should provide further momentum for U.S. exports.

China has been a major source of growth for U.S. beef exports in 2021, with exports through September 2021 climbing 672 percent from a year ago to 138,041 mt, while export value was up 761 percent to $1.12 billion. Combined exports to China and Hong Kong were up 131 percent through September 2021 at 176,694 mt, valued at $1.49 billion – already shattering the previous value record of $1.15 billion set in 2014.

Other January to September 2021 highlights for U.S. beef exports include:

• Beef demand in Mexico continues to rebound from last year’s low totals. Exports through September 2021 reached 147,719 mt, up 17 percent year-over-year, while value climbed 40 percent to $768 million, but these results were still below the pre-COVID levels reached in 2019.
• Taiwan has been another big growth market for chilled U.S. beef, with volume up 22 percent to 24,366 mt and value reaching $313 million (up 36 percent). U.S. beef accounts for more than 80 percent of Taiwan’s chilled imports. Total U.S. beef exports to Taiwan were up 14 percent in value to $472.7 million, although volume eased 3 percent to 47,000 mt.
• Led by a strong increase in Indonesia and larger shipments to the Philippines, beef exports to the ASEAN region climbed 23 percent from a year ago to 43,567 mt, while value was up 30 percent to $223.8 million.
• A strong rebound in Colombia and increased demand in Chile and Peru pushed exports to South America 24 percent higher than a year ago at 22,265 mt, valued at $118.4 million (up 71 percent). Peru is a top destination for U.S. beef variety meat exports, with January to September 2021 volume totaling 6,625 mt—up 2 percent from last year’s strong level and the fastest pace since 2014.
• Strong retail demand in several markets, notably Guatemala (5,712 mt, up 50 percent) and Costa Rica (3,375 mt, up 96 percent), helped put beef exports to Central America on a record pace at 14,896 mt, up 61 percent from a year ago, while value soared 89 percent to $91.5 million.
• September 2021 beef export value equated to $447.46 per head of fed slaughter, up 63 percent from a year ago. For the first three quarters of the year, export value averaged $389.08 per head (up 32 percent). Exports accounted for 15.7 percent of total September 2021 beef production and 13 percent for muscle cuts, up substantially from last year’s ratios of 12.8 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively. Through September 2021, exports accounted for 15.1 percent of total beef production and 12.8 percent for muscle cuts, each up nearly two full percentage points from a year ago.

Pork export growth to Western Hemisphere markets offsets softer demand in China

Strong demand from Mexico provided another powerful boost for U.S. pork exports in September 2021, as shipments climbed 45 percent from a year ago to 79,678 mt, the third highest volume on record, valued at $141.6 million (up 59 percent). Through September 2021, exports to Mexico were up 27 percent to 623,228 mt, while value climbed an impressive 57 percent to $1.24 billion. Exports have also moved ahead of the record pace of 2017, when full-year shipments to Mexico topped 800,000 mt and exceeded $1.5 billion in value.

Pork exports to Central America continued to shine in September 2021, climbing 63 percent from a year ago to 11,110 mt, while value nearly doubled to $30.9 million (up 93 percent). Led by outstanding growth in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, January to September 2021 exports to the region increased 48 percent in volume (98,547 mt) and 63 percent in value ($263.1 million).

Following a down year in 2020, pork exports to Colombia have staged an impressive comeback. September 2021 exports totaled 7,934 mt, up 68 percent from a year ago, while value more than doubled to $20.5 million (up 103 percent). Through the first three quarters of the year, shipments to Colombia nearly matched the pre-COVID levels of 2019 in volume (70,905 mt, up 55 percent from a year ago) and actually moved higher in value at $169.5 million (up 70 percent from a year ago and 7 percent above 2019).

Other January to September 2021 highlights for U.S. pork exports include:

• As anticipated, total pork exports to China/Hong Kong declined significantly from a year ago, falling 23 percent to 619,709 mt. However, pork variety meat shipments have strengthened, increasing 24 percent to 259,703 mt and climbing 29 percent in value to $623.7 million. Variety meat exports to China averaged nearly six pounds per head harvested through September 2021, valued at $6.52.
• Although September 2021 export volume to Japan was down 5 percent from a year ago to 29,102 mt, export value still increased slightly to $128.4 million. Through September 2021, exports to Japan were 6 percent above last year at 300,982 mt and climbed 7 percent in value to $1.28 billion.
• Pork exports to Korea were 5 percent above last year at 128,467 mt, while export value jumped 20 percent to $419 million, driven in part by a surge in Korea’s demand for higher-value U.S. chilled pork. Korean customs clearance data show chilled imports from the U.S. reached nearly 7,500 mt through September 2021, up 177 percent year-over-year, capturing 40 percent market share and narrowly edging Canada as the top supplier.
• Demand for U.S. pork continues to climb in the Dominican Republic, where exports increased 45 percent to 42,440 mt, valued at $109 million (up 66 percent).
• September 2021 pork export value equated to $56.53 per head slaughtered, up 11 percent from a year ago. Through September 2021, per-head export value was also up 11 percent to $65.06. Exports accounted for 26.9 percent of total September pork production, up slightly from a year ago, while the ratio of muscle cuts exported was down about one percentage point to 23.1 percent. Through September 2021, exports accounted for 30.4 percent of total pork production, up from 29.6 percent a year ago. The ratio of muscle cuts exported was 26.8 percent (down slightly).

September lamb exports above last year

While September 2021 exports of U.S. lamb were up only slightly from a year ago at 948 mt, value climbed 39 percent to $1.6 million as growth was driven primarily by a sharp increase in muscle cut exports to the Dominican Republic. Through September 2021, lamb exports were up 5 percent to 9,945 mt, valued at just under $14 million (up 11 percent). Shipments increased to leading market Mexico and trended higher to the Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Guatemala and Honduras.

Complete January to September 2021 export results for U.S. pork, beef, and lamb are available from USMEF’s statistics web page.

For questions, please contact Joe Schuele or call 303-547-0030.

Source: U.S. Meat Export Federation