Beef Exports Soar in September, Pork Remains on Record Pace for 2021
Both U.S. beef and U.S. pork exports are on a record pace through September, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports posted one of the best months on record in September, with value climbing nearly 60% above last year. Pork export volume was slightly below last September, but value still increased 8%.
"Facing significant logistical headwinds and higher costs, these outstanding results are really a testament to the loyalty and strong demand from our international customers and to the innovation and determination of the U.S. industry," said USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom in the latest USMEF report.
Beef Exports Increase in September
Beef exports continued to soar in September at 123,628 metric tons (mt), up 20% from a year ago and the fourth largest volume of the post-BSE era, USMEF reports. Export value jumped 59% to $954.1 million – the second highest month on record, trailing only August 2021. For the first three quarters of 2021, beef exports increased 18% from a year ago to 1.08 million mt, valued at $7.58 billion – up more than $2 billion (36%) from the same period last year. Compared to the record year of 2018, January-September exports were 7% higher in volume and up 24% in value.
Japan, South Korea and China/Hong Kong are all on track to be $2-billion destinations for U.S. beef in 2021, USMEF points out, with strong growth in chilled beef exports to Japan and Korea.
“You have some other regions around the world as well that are adding into this, Latin America in particular, so broad-based growth on the beef side is very positive,” Halstrom said.
Pork Exports Value Jumps Higher in September
Pork exports totaled 219,687 mt in September, down 1% from a year ago, USMEF reports. However, value was 8% higher at $608.3 million. For January through September, exports were 1% above last year's record pace at 2.24 million mt, while value climbed 9% to $6.23 billion.
September pork exports to Mexico were the third largest on record at nearly 80,000 mt, pushing January-September exports to Mexico to a record pace. Pork exports to Central America and the Dominican Republic are also reaching new heights and exports to Colombia have rebounded significantly from a year ago.
“The September stats on pork are similar trend lines to what we've seen the last couple of months with Mexico, Central America, South America up big. We've seen this continual trend line where the rest of the world is picking up the slack from China,” Halstrom said. “China was down a little over 20%, similar to the last few months, but we're offsetting it with these other markets.”
Variety Meat Exports Shine
A rebound in pork and beef variety meat exports, which took a step back last year amid COVID-19 production obstacles, has been a strong source of momentum this year, Halstrom noted.
"The increase in the variety meat capture rate, and the resulting increase in exports, is especially encouraging because the labor and transportation challenges certainly have not gone away," Halstrom explained in the USMEF report. "But these items are commanding a strong premium overseas, making it more feasible to get them into international commerce. Variety meat exports are a great complement to our strong domestic and international demand for muscle cuts, helping maximize carcass value."
China's demand for U.S. pork variety meat has remained strong despite muscle cut exports to China easing, helping push total January-September pork variety meat exports 17% above last year to 405,744 mt, valued at $949.1 million (up 26%). Beef variety meat exports, led by strong increases in Japan, Mexico, Central and South America and the ASEAN region, were 10% above last year at 226,755 mt, with value up 19% to $762.2 million.
A detailed summary of the January-September red meat export results, including market-specific highlights, is available here.
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