US pork exports on record pace – USMEF

Exports of US beef and pork posted year-over-year increases in October, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), with pork exports well-positioned to set annual volume and value records in 2024.

Pork exports reached 252,411 mt in October, up 3% from a year ago, while value also climbed 3% to $710.4 million. Although shipments to leading market Mexico declined slightly, this was more than offset by growth in Japan, Central America, the Caribbean, Oceania and the ASEAN region. Through the first 10 months of 2024, pork exports increased 5% from a year ago to 2.49 million mt, valued at $7.07 billion (up 6%).

For the year, exports are projected to surpass 3 million mt for the first time, exceeding the 2020 volume record (2.98 million mt) and topping last year’s value record ($8.16 billion).

“While shipments to Mexico eased just a bit in October, $217 million in exports is still a tremendous number,” said Dan Halstrom, UMEF president and CEO.  “This just highlights the remarkable growth US pork has achieved in the Mexican market, which is enabled by the duty-free access delivered through the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.”

“This access is critical and something we can never take for granted,” Halstrom added. “At the same time, the fact that global exports still achieved an increase in October really underscores the importance of market diversification.”

Tags: pork, US, Beef, shipments, USMEF, exports