April pork export value – impressive 2009 levels

U.S. pork/pork variety meat export value increased by about 7 percent over April 2009 and reached its highest level since November 2008. Beef/beef variety meat export value topped its year-ago level by 27 percent and was about 10 percent higher than in April 2003, the last year of “pre-BSE” market access.

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According to statistics released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), April pork/pork variety meat exports totaled 156,211 metric tons (344.4 million pounds) valued at $400.95 million, bringing the cumulative January-April total to 625,004 metric tons (1.38 billion pounds) valued at $1.51 billion.

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April beef plus beef variety meat exports totaled 82,827 metric tons (182.6 million pounds) valued at $311.3 million, bringing the cumulative 2010 total to 307,949 metric tons (678.9 million pounds) valued at $1.1 billion.

April results were even more impressive when focused solely on muscle cuts. Pork muscle cut value ($345 million) was 11 percent above April 2009, while beef muscle cut value ($268 million) was up 37 percent from a year ago.

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Through the first quarter of the year, U.S. pork exports had shown mixed results in the two largest international markets. While Mexico was running well ahead of its record-breaking 2009 pace, exports to Japan took a step back due to higher domestic supplies and increased foreign competition. Both countries, however, had a strong positive impact on the April export results. Mexico was up only slightly in terms of pork/pork variety meat volume (41,094 metric tons or 90.6 million pounds), but value increased by 22 percent to $73.6 million. The increase in muscle exports was even greater – 27 percent in volume (28,154 metric tons or 62.1 million pounds) and 53 percent in value ($56.1 million). For the year, Mexico continued to top last year’s pace by 6 percent in volume (187,991 metric tons or 414.4 million pounds) and 25 percent in value ($331.1 million). For muscle cuts only, Mexico is up by a remarkable 25 percent in volume (128,615 metric tons or 283.5 million pounds) and 47 percent in value ($250.8 million).

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Japan, the perennial value leader for U.S.©pork, was up 9 percent in volume (to 42,271 metric tons or 93.2 million pounds) and 8 percent in value ($159 million) over April 2009. For muscle cuts only, April exports to Japan increased by 6 percent in volume (40,024 metric tons or 88.2 million pounds) and 8 percent in value ($155.9 million). For the year, Japan closed the gap on last year’s pace but was still down 11 percent in volume (140,544 metric tons or 309.8 million pounds) and 7 percent in value ($528.8 million). For muscle cuts only, Japan trails 2009 by 8 percent in volume (133,850 metric tons or 295.1 million pounds) and 6 percent in value ($516.4 million).

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“We are obviously delighted to see strong signs of recovery for U.S.©pork in Japan,” said USMEF Vice Chair Danita Rodibaugh, a pork producer from©Rensselaer, Ind. “Japan was a $1.5 billion market in both 2008 and 2009, so it is critical to our worldwide performance. While we’re not quite back to the tremendous pace that was previously set in Japan, we made significant strides in that direction in April.”

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Rodibaugh was also excited about the momentum U.S.©pork continues to build in Mexico.

“Our April volume to Mexico©was the lowest so far this year, but the value numbers were just fantastic,” she said. “As pork prices rise domestically and internationally, Mexico is proving very resilient. Buyers have found a quality product in U.S. pork, and they are showing a strong willingness to pay for it.”

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Pork/pork variety meat exports to Hong Kong©remained strong in April, and were up by 48 percent in volume and 28 percent in value for the year. With U.S. pork only recently regaining access to mainland China, however, exports to the China/Hong Kong region are still down slightly in terms of both volume (85,169 metric tons or 187.8 million pounds) and value $135.7 million) compared to last year.©©

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A strong April performance pushed 2010 exports to Canada up 12 percent in volume (57,487 metric tons or 126.7 million pounds) and up 21 percent in value ($188.5 million) over last year.

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U.S.©pork exports to the ASEAN region were up 51 percent in volume (30,462 metric tons or 67.2 million pounds) and 65 percent in value ($57 million). Growth was led by the Philippines, where a shortage of domestic pork supplies has helped stimulate demand. Exports to the Philippines were up 83 percent, with value doubling (to $46 million) compared to 2009. Exports to Singapore were up by about one-third over last year.

Exports to Australia were up 12 percent in volume (18,881 metric tons or 41.6 million pounds) and 9 percent in value ($44.86 million). April exports to Australia slowed from their first-quarter pace but were still significantly higher in volume (up 19 percent) and value (up 26 percent) than in April 2009.©©

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Central/South America continued to show strong growth in 2010, with exports up by about one-third in volume (20,453 metric tons or 45.1 million pounds) and nearly 40 percent in value ($45.6 million). The top markets were Honduras, Guatemala and Colombia.

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Exports to Taiwan were up only 2 percent in volume (12,854 metrics tons or 28.3 million pounds) through April but export value was up 21 percent to $23 million.

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South Korea©has proven to be a difficult market in 2010, with exports down 27 percent in volume (33,946 metric tons or 74.8 million pounds) and 31 percent in value ($69.5 million). But the market showed positive momentum in April, with the largest export volume since October 2009 and export value reaching its highest level in the past 12 months.

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January-April exports to Russia were down more than 70 percent in both volume and value compared to last year. April exports, however, were the largest of the year as many recently relisted plants resumed exports to Russia.

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Source: United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF)