U.S. beef exports closed the third quarter on a positive note, with September volume increasing slightly from a year ago and value climbing 8%, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Pork exports were below year-ago levels for the fifth consecutive month, due in part to a sharp decline in variety meat shipments.
Led by another robust performance in Taiwan and year-over-year increases in South Korea and the Caribbean, September beef export value increased 8% to $712.4 million, while volume was up 1% to 81,310 metric tons (mt). September export value also increased to Japan, the Middle East and South America despite lower volumes, while shipments were below last year in volume and value to Mexico, Canada and Central America. Exports to China were above the minimal volume shipped a year ago, but remained far below the levels seen in previous years when U.S. beef had relatively strong access to the market.
“Beef exports were once again encouraging in September, as global customers continue to show a powerful and loyal appetite for U.S. beef,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “While consumers everywhere are feeling the pinch of higher household expenses, they still prioritize high-quality protein in their daily diet. The U.S. beef industry is well-positioned to meet this need, providing the consistent value that consumers expect, in a wide range of markets. Economic situations in those markets also vary widely. For example, U.S. beef is certainly benefiting from Taiwan’s strong economic performance.”
September pork exports totaled 216,353 mt, down 7.5% from a year ago, while value fell 13.5% to $591.3 million. Exports remain on a record pace to Central America, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, and September shipments were record-large to Cuba. September exports also increased year-over-year to Japan, Canada and Taiwan, but these results were offset by lower shipments to Mexico, China, Oceania and the ASEAN region.
January-September pork exports remained slightly above last year’s pace at 2.17 million mt (up 0.3%), but export value slipped 2% to $6.1 billion.
USMEF news release
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