FLEISCHWIRTSCHAFT international 3/2018

Fleischwirtschaft international 3_2018
21
USA
Strong April for red meat exports – New volume record for pork
Industry News
April exports of US pork, beef and
lamb were sharply higher than a year
ago in both volume and value, according
to data released by USDA
and compiled by the US Meat Export
Federation (USMEF). Pork exports set
a new volume record, fueled by
tremendous demand in Mexico,
while beef exports posted the bestever
results for the month of April.
April pork export volume was
230,049 t, up 13% from a year ago
and topping the previous high set in
November 2016. April export value
was $584.1mill., also up 13%. For
January through April, pork export
volume was 4% ahead of last year’s
record pace at 866,346 t, while
value increased 9% to $2.29 bn.
Exports accounted for nearly 30% of
total pork production in April, up
from 28.4% a year ago, while the
percentage of muscle cuts exported
also increased significantly (25.8%,
up from 23.5%). Through April, the
percentage of total production
exported was fairly steady with last
year at 27.4%, while muscle cuts
jumped from 22.8% to 23.5%. April
pork export value averaged $58.45
per head slaughtered, up 6% from a
year ago, while the January­April
average increased 5% to $55.69.
Beef export volume was 111,213 t
in April, up 11% year­over­year.
Export value was $676.7 mill., up
23% and the fourth­highest on
record. Through the first four
months of 2018, exports were up
10% in volume to 429,286 t. Export
value was $2.59 bn., 20% above last
year’s record pace. Exports accounted
for 14.1% of total beef
production in April, up from 13.6% a
year ago. For muscle cuts only, the
percentage exported was 11.3%, up
from 10.6%. For January through
April, exports accounted for 13.4%
of total production and 10.8% for
muscle cuts, each up about half a
percentage point from last year.
Beef export value averaged $328.46
per head of fed slaughter in April, up
16% from a year ago. Through April,
per­head export value averaged
$318.91, up 17%.
Even with growth in red meat
production, both pork and beef
exports have accounted for a
larger share and contributed more
dollars per head, indicating strong
international demand.
Mexico was again the pacesetter
for pork exports in April, with volume
reaching 79,019 t – up 34% from a
year ago and the second­largest on
record. Export value to Mexico was
$134.1 mill., up 28%. Through the
first months of 2018, exports were
7% above last year’s record volume
pace at 282,675 t, with value up 6%
to $505.4 mill. Maintaining this pace
will be challenging, however, with
Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs on imports
of most US pork products
effective 5June. The tariff rate on
chilled and frozen pork muscle cuts
is 10% until 5 July, when it is set to
increase to 20%.
“The outstanding April performance
for pork exports to Mexico
really underscores the importance
of this market to the US industry
and how it has been such a reliable
trading partner for hams, picnics
and other pork cuts,” said USMEF
President and CEO Dan Halstrom.
“USMEF will continue to emphasize
the quality and consistency of US
pork to red meat customers in
Mexico and make every effort to
help US suppliers retain their business.
But make no mistake about
it, the US industry is going to have
to fend off competitors who suddenly
have a significant tariff rate
advantage and see a clear opening
into the Mexican market.”
//www.usmef.org
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