"On the pork side, exports are still trailing the enormous totals from the first half of last year, but we’re seeing upward momentum in several markets,"  said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "Shipments to Mexico are on a record pace and demand is strong across most of the Western Hemisphere. China’s hog prices have increased about 40% since mid-June, which supports our forecast for some rebound in China’s demand for imported pork toward the end of the year. Even when China pulls larger volumes from other suppliers, this has a positive impact for U.S. pork in a number of international markets." Pork exports to the Dominican Republic set a new record in April (8,966 mt) and nearly matched that total in May, increasing 126% from a year ago to 8,518 mt. Export value was also just short of the April record, increasing 110% to $21.2 million. Through May, exports to the DR increased 40% to 36,110 mt, with value climbing 42% to $88.6 million. With shipments also trending higher to the Bahamas and the Leeward-Winward Islands, exports to the Caribbean increased 33% in volume (43,058 mt) and 38% in value ($113 million).

Following a record year in 2021, pork exports to Colombia started this year slowly but increased sharply in the second quarter. After a strong April, exports reached 9,710 mt in May (up 17% from a year ago), valued at $21.9 million (up 10%). Through May, exports to Colombia remained 1% below last year’s record pace in volume (40,693 mt) and 2% lower in value ($92.1 million). Although a large percentage of U.S. pork exported to Colombia is for further processing, the U.S. industry has made significant inroads in Colombia’s retail and foodservice sectors.

Other January-May results for U.S. pork exports include:

• Pork export value to South Korea has trended higher this year, driven in part by strong retail demand for convenience-based items and chilled pork cuts. January-May export volume to Korea fell 6% 75,988 mt, but export value still climbed 8% to $267.6 million. Korea’s imports of chilled U.S. pork were up 5% in volume (3,877 mt) and climbed 26% in value to $27.56 million. Competition in this market will further intensify in the second half of the year, as the Korean government recently announced a 70,000 mt, duty-free TRQ for imported pork. With imports from the U.S., European Union and Chile already entering at zero duty under free trade agreements, the main beneficiaries are expected to be Canadian, Mexican and Brazilian pork. Canada is the United States’ primary competitor in Korea’s chilled pork market.
• China is the dominant destination for U.S. pork variety meat, and exports showed an encouraging uptick in May. While still below last year, pork variety meat exports to China reached 24,159 mt in May, the largest since October, valued at $67.3 million (the highest since July). Through May, pork variety meat exports to China were down 21% from a year ago to 107,427 mt, with value falling 8% to $304.1 million. This is due in part to China’s COVID testing and tracing restrictions, which have hurt importers’ ability to profitably utilize imported pork variety meat. Through May, total pork and pork variety meat exports to the China/Hong Kong region were down significantly from a year ago in both volume (396,934 mt, down 56%) and value ($480.2 million, down 50%), as China’s overall imports trended toward 2019 levels.
• Following a strong April, pork exports to Japan took a step back in May, with volume down 12% from a year ago to 32,223 mt and value falling 14% to $132.3 million. Through May, exports to Japan were 9% below last year at 158,239 mt, valued at $667.3 million (down 8%). Despite logistical challenges, Japan’s January-May imports of U.S. chilled pork increased slightly from a year ago to 87,279 mt, while chilled imports from Canada fell 10% to 78,351 mt.
• While Central America’s demand for U.S. pork remains relatively strong, January-May exports trailed last year’s record pace by 13% in volume (50,295 mt) and 10% in value ($134.4 million). Exports trended higher to Honduras, the top market in the region, as well as to Nicaragua.
• Following a down year in 2021 and a slow start this year, pork exports to Australia showed signs of a rebound in May, totaling 4,686 mt valued at $17.1 million. While still lower year-over-year, this was the largest monthly volume and value in 11 months. Prior to recent increases in shipping costs and other transportation obstacles, Australia was a reliable destination for boneless U.S. hams and loins for further processing.
• May pork export value equated to $65.27 per head slaughtered, down 23% from a year ago but the highest monthly average since July 2021. The January-May average was $57.38 per head, down 14%. Exports accounted for 28.6% of total May pork production and 25.2% for muscle cuts. While lower than a year ago (down from 32% and 28.6%, respectively) these were the highest monthly ratios since July 2021. For January through May, exports accounted for 26.3% of total pork production and 23.4% for muscle cuts, down from 31.1% and 27.8%, respectively, in 2021.