Strong pace continues for U.S. meat exports in February

Pork exports post strongest February volume on record, reaching 197,025 metric tons, up 15% year-over-year, with value up 17% to $486.7 million.

Source: U.S. Meat Export Federation

February results for U.S. pork and beef exports were well above year-ago levels, with pork exports posting the strongest February volume on record, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Pork exports reached 197,025 metric tons in February, up 15% year-over-year, with value up 17% to $486.7 million. For the first two months of 2017, exports totaled 399,692 mt, up 18%, with value increasing 22% to $995.3 million.

February exports accounted for 27.6% of total pork production and 22.9% for muscle cuts only, up from 23.8% and 20%, respectively, last year. January-February ratios were also significantly higher at 26.8% and 22.2%, compared to 23% and 19.3% in the first two months of 2016. Export value per hog slaughtered averaged $51.94 in February, up 18% year-over-year, while the January-February average was up 20% to $51.05.

Beef exports totaled 90,417 mt in February, up 9% year-over-year, with value up 16% to $508.5 million. Through February, beef exports were up 13% in volume (186,905 mt) and 17% in value ($1.02 billion).

February exports accounted for 12.6% of total beef production and 10.1% for muscle cuts only, which was steady with last year. January-February ratios were also fairly steady at 12.4% and 9.8%, respectively. Export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $276.96 in February, up 13% from a year ago, while the January-February average was up 10% to $266.34 per head.

 

“With trade deficits being a hot topic of conversation, especially with countries such as Mexico, China and Japan, it’s important to highlight the sectors in which U.S. products are competitive throughout the world and exports are thriving,” says USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “The red meat sector is certainly in that category, as exports have helped fuel growth in the U.S. industry and, in turn, larger U.S. production has opened further export opportunities and generated positive returns for the entire supply chain.”

Pork exports strong to Western Hemisphere and North Asian markets
Mexico was once again the pacesetter for February pork exports, with volume up 22% to 64,990 mt and value increasing 28% to $116 million. This pushed the two-month totals for Mexico to 137,396 mt (up 27%) valued at $244.7 million (up 39%). Mexico’s strong demand is reflected not only in increased buying from the United States, but also in relatively high domestic hog prices, as per capita consumption of pork continues to grow. Strong demand from Mexico helped move prices for U.S. heavy bone-in hams higher in 2017 — up an average of 4% year-over-year.

For Japan, the leading value market for U.S. pork, February exports increased 14% to 32,178 mt, valued at $130.4 million (up 18%). For January-February, exports to Japan were up 10% in volume (63,755 mt) and 14% in value ($256.1 million). Chilled pork exports to Japan increased 7% through February to 34,682 mt.

Other highlights for U.S. pork include:
• China/Hong Kong continued to take large volumes of U.S. pork variety meats in February, offsetting the slowdown in pork muscle cuts, putting the combined February total at 42,881 mt (up 5% year-over-year), valued at $83.2 million (up 12%). Two-month totals were up 10% in volume (80,893 mt) and 15% in value ($159.3 million). China’s hog prices dropped below year-ago levels in February and have continued to drift lower, but China/Hong Kong’s total January-February imports were still up 35% from last year’s record pace at 532,600 mt.

• Pork exports to South Korea, which were slow in the first half of 2016 before gaining momentum later in the year, totaled 14,649 mt (up 26%) in February, valued at $38.2 million (up 29%). Through February, volume increased 29% to 30,722 mt while value improved 39% to $83.3 million. Korea’s hog prices have increased an average of 8% this year even as production has been growing, which is indicative of strong demand.

• Led by a year-over-year doubling of exports to Colombia and Chile and solid growth in Honduras, exports to Central and South America were up 45% in volume (27,022 mt) through February while value increased 42% to $61.8 million.

• January-February exports to the Dominican Republic were also well above last year’s pace at 5,279 mt (up 28%) valued at $11.8 million (up 34%).

Chilled beef to Japan, Korea and Taiwan continues to drive export growth
Japan continues to solidify its position as the leading volume and value market for U.S. beef, with February exports climbing 48% from a year ago in volume (23,789 mt) and 55% in value ($134.3 million). Through February, exports to Japan were up 41% in volume (46,276 mt) and 44% in value ($259.6 million). This includes a 60% increase in chilled beef volume to 19,404 mt. Japanese import data show that U.S. beef overtook Australian beef in the first two months of the year, with U.S. market share climbing to 45.6% while Australia’s dropped to 44%.

Strong momentum continued for U.S. beef in Korea, where February exports increased 11% to 13,093 mt valued at $86 million (up 26%). This pushed the two-month totals up 23% in volume (28,287 mt) and 31% in value ($177.6 million). Chilled exports through February were up 95% to 5,384 mt.

In Taiwan, February exports jumped 33% from a year ago to 2,886 mt, while value increased 26% to $25.3 million. Through February, exports were up 28% in volume (6,477 mt) and 25% in value ($55.1 million). U.S. beef holds 70% of the chilled beef market in Taiwan, the highest of any Asian market. Through February, chilled exports to Taiwan increased 12% to 2,479 mt.

Other highlights for U.S. beef include:
• Exports within North America are off to a solid start in 2017, with January-February exports to Mexico increasing 14% from a year ago in volume (36,235 mt) and 3% in value ($147.4 million). Exports to Canada are showing signs of a rebound, with volume up 11% to 19,446 mt and value up 18% to $123.5 million.

• Beef exports to two key South American markets increased significantly in value through February, with exports to Chile up 22% year-over-year to $8.9 million and exports to Peru up 68% to $4.3 million. The increase in Chile was achieved despite a 16% decline in volume (1,417 mt) while volume to Peru was up 16% to 1,130 mt.

• A rebound in the Philippines and continued growth in Vietnam pushed January-February beef exports to the ASEAN region up 33% in volume (4,774 mt) and 19% in value ($27.3 million). Exports to Indonesia, which set a value record of $39.4 million last year, are off to a slow start in 2017 with value through February down 48% to $3.5 million.

• Strong growth to most Asian markets helped offset a slowdown to Hong Kong, where January-February volume was down 21% to 16,131 mt, valued at $104.7 million (down 12%).

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