Beef, Pork Exports Set New Records In May
U.S. beef and pork export values shattered previous records in May, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Beef exports were up 68% (133,440 metric tons) while beef export value was up 88% to $904.3 million. While beef export data was expected to exceed last year’s COVID-19 disrupted totals, the May numbers were still impressive.
Driven by record-large exports to South Korea, continued growth in China and a strong rebound in Japan and Taiwan, May produced the third consecutive monthly value record for beef exports, which had never exceeded $800 million before March 2021. For January through May, exports reached 587,838 mt, up 15% from a year ago, while value increased 22% to $3.84 billion.
May pork exports totaled 283,617 mt, up 16% from a year ago and the third largest on record. Export value exceeded $800 million for the first time in May, climbing 31% to $813.2 million, led by the largest exports of the year to Mexico and strong growth in Central America, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and the Philippines. For January through May, pork exports were slightly below last year's record pace at 1.34 million mt, but export value increased 3% to $3.63 billion.
"The outstanding May performance is especially gratifying when you consider where red meat exports stood a year ago," said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "The industry faced unprecedented, COVID-related obstacles at all levels of the supply chain, and a very uncertain international business climate. These challenges are still not behind us, but international demand has been very resilient and the U.S. industry has shown a tremendous commitment to serving its global customers."
Halstrom cautioned that U.S. labor availability remains a major concern and limitation for the industry, and exporters continue to face significant obstacles when shipping product overseas. Due to the ongoing, fluid impact of COVID-19, foodservice restrictions also continue to affect several key markets where dine-in service is either suspended or subject to capacity limits and shorter hours, and tourism has not yet returned in many countries.
"USMEF remains optimistic that international demand will remain strong in the second half of 2021, but the road ahead is not an easy one," Halstrom said. "The U.S. industry must continue to be innovative and aggressive in defending existing market share, while also expanding our customer base by responding to COVID-driven changes in the marketplace and shifts in consumer trends and preferences."
