Beef Exports Exceed $10 Billion, Pork Tops $8 Billion
For the first time, U.S. beef exports have exceeded $10 billion in sales, shattering the previous record by 27%. Pork exports finished slightly below the record volume reached in 2020 but set a new value record, topping $8 billion for the first time.
Those eye-popping numbers come from the year-end data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
In December, beef exports totaled 121,429 metric tons, up 1% from a year ago, and value climbed 33% to $991.8 million – the third largest month on record, according to USMEF. Total volume in 2021 was 1.44 million metric tons, up 15% from 2020 and 7% higher than the previous record set in 2018. Export value soared to $10.58 billion, up 38% from 2020 and shattering the previous record by 27% set in 2018.
Beef exports to Korea, Japan and China/Hong Kong each exceeded $2 billion, setting new volume and value records in Korea and China/Hong Kong and a value record in Japan. Exports also set a new value record in Taiwan and reached new heights in Central America, Colombia and Indonesia. Global exports of U.S. beef variety meat also set a new value record of $1.09 billion, up 24% year-over-year.
"The beef export results are truly remarkable, especially considering the COVID-related obstacles in the global foodservice sector and all the supply-side and logistical challenges faced by the U.S. industry," said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "Obviously our large Asian markets accounted for much of the growth, but it really takes broad-based global demand to reach these impressive levels. So this success story is not just about Korea, Japan and China – but also a strong performance in Taiwan, excellent growth in Central and South America and a rebound in Mexico and Southeast Asia."
For pork exports fell 17% in December to 215,872 metric tons, valued at $604.3 million, down 12%. For 2021, export volume was 2.92 million metric tons, down 2% from the 2020 record, but export value still climbed 5% to a record $8.11 billion.
Record-large pork exports to Mexico, Central America, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and the Philippines helped offset a decline in demand from China in 2021. Exports also increased to Japan and South Korea, including larger volumes of chilled pork. Global exports of U.S. pork variety meat set a new value record of $1.24 billion, up 19% year-over-year.
"Entering last year, we knew it would be a daunting task to match the record level of pork exports reached in 2020 because of the recovery in China's swine herd and its rising domestic pork production," Halstrom said. "But the U.S. is less dependent on China than other major pork exporters, and this is definitely reflected in the 2021 results. Even with shipments to China falling nearly 30%, total U.S. exports posted a very strong performance thanks to outstanding growth in Latin America and other key markets."
