USDA confirms record pork exports in November last year

Exports of US pork registered the highest-ever monthly value in November last year, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

USMEF noted that the country exported 223,962t of pork in November, which is equivalent to $615.8m.

In the US, exports accounted for 27.7% of total pork production in November, of which 24.1% were reported to be muscle cuts only.

USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom said: “For all livestock producers, variety meat exports make a very important contribution to carcass value.

“USMEF has made it a priority to help our international customers develop more uses for pork variety meat and to broaden the global market for these products.

“At a time of record-large pork production, it is especially gratifying to see variety meat export value jump nearly 20%, which boosts the bottom line for everyone in the supply chain.”

As per the reports, November pork export value averaged $58.38 per head slaughtered, which is said to have increased by 6% in comparison to previous year’s figures.

The South Korean market is said to be one of the key drivers for the November pork exports, as the majority of the US pork enters the duty-free market as a result of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS).

USMEF further explained that the country has exported 111,915t beef products in November, which is said to have decreased by 3% compared to November 2016 figures.

Lamb exports from the country were the lowest as the exports of these products have gone down by 36% in comparison to the previous year.