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USMEF: November pork export value highest in 30 months

Pork

Fueled by record performances in Mexico, Central America and Colombia, November exports of U.S. pork reached the highest value since mid-2021, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Posted on Jan 15 ,00:10

November pork exports totaled 258,601 metric tons (mt), up 5% from a year ago and the highest in six months. Export value was up 2% to $737.4 million, the highest since May 2021 and the seventh highest on record. For January through November, exports totaled 2.64 million mt, up 8% from a year ago, valued at $7.39 billion (up 5%). 

"The momentum for U.S. pork exports is remarkable and very broad-based", said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "While Mexico accounts for much of the past year’s export growth, there are success stories throughout the Western Hemisphere and across the entire globe. And the coming year also looks very promising in both established and emerging markets".

November pork exports to leading market Mexico set a value record at $221.3 million, up 5% from the large total posted a year ago. Export volume (100,313 mt) increased 14% and was the second largest on record, trailing only October 2023. January-November exports already surpassed the annual records set in 2022, with volume increasing 13% year-over-year to 995,534 mt, while value was 15% higher at $2.12 billion.

Mexico’s surging demand for U.S. pork is especially impressive because the market attracted new competition over the past two years. Since mid-2021, Mexico has granted zero-duty access to all eligible pork, beef and poultry suppliers, and this policy has been extended through 2024. The main beneficiaries are European and Brazilian pork, though pork imports from Brazil have been suspended since late November due to a court challenge to Mexico’s import procedures. Even with new players in the arena, the U.S. share of Mexico’s imported pork market increased in 2023, reaching 84%. 

Led by outstanding growth in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, pork exports to Central America set monthly volume and value records in November. Shipments increased 35% from a year ago to 16,565 mt, while value surged 37% to $51.3 million. Through the first 11 months of the year, exports increased 15% to 119,348 mt, while value climbed 20% to $352.4 million. Shipments to the region are on a record pace, with exports already setting annual value records in Honduras and Guatemala and both volume and value records in El Salvador and Nicaragua. 

November pork exports to Colombia set a value record at $34.3 million, up 59% from a year ago, while November volume was the second largest on record at 12,148 mt (up 46%). After a slow start in 2023, exports to Colombia have strengthened in recent months. For January-November, exports were 6% below the 2022 pace at 88,550 mt, but value increased 6% to $242.2 million. The record performance in Colombia and robust growth in Chile and Peru pushed November pork exports to South America to the largest levels in two years. Shipments increased 55% from a year ago to 15,056 mt, the sixth largest on record, while value jumped 58% to $43.2 million, the third highest on record. Exports to Chile were the largest in 11 years and exports to Peru were the largest since June. Through November, exports to South America were 1% lower in volume (106,968 mt) but increased 8% in value ($306.7 million). 

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

• Although November pork exports to the Dominican Republic were slightly below the large totals posted in 2022, monthly exports still surpassed 10,000 mt for just the fifth time. January-November exports to the DR already set an annual record at 91,154 mt, up 20% year-over-year, while value increased 23% to $251.9 million. Shipments to the Caribbean region also set annual records, climbing 20% to 111,010 mt, valued at $322.2 million (up 22%). While this was primarily due to growth in the DR,  exports to Caribbean markets outside the DR were the largest in 10 years, with exports on a record pace to the Netherlands Antilles and Leeward-Windward Islands and rebounding strongly to Trinidad and Tobago. 
• November was an excellent month for pork exports to South Korea, increasing 19% from a year ago to 17,406 mt, while value was up 18% to $57.7 million. January-November shipments increased 4% to 167,349 mt, while value slipped 2% to $551.5 million. Korea’s use of temporary duty-free tariff rate quotas again last year benefited Canadian, Mexican and Brazilian pork. But U.S. share of Korea’s imports increased from 26% to 32%, as the European Union’s market share declined. Imports from the U.S., EU and Chile enter Korea duty-free under trade agreements. 
• Pork exports to Oceania made an impressive rebound in 2023 and this trend continued in November, with shipments nearly tripling from a year ago to 6,414 mt (up 186%), while value increased 128% to $23.3 million. January-November exports increased 88% in volume (70,021 mt) and 71% in value ($247.8 million). 
• January-November exports to the ASEAN increased 24% from a year ago to 60,268 mt, though value declined 2% to $142 million. Two emerging markets in the region, both of which have been impacted by African swine fever (ASF), set annual records: exports to Malaysia soared to 4,502 mt valued at $14.3 million, while shipments to Indonesia reached 933 mt valued at $3 million. 
• November pork exports to Japan were steady with the previous year at 26,890 mt, while value increased slightly to $111.6 million. Through November, exports were down 5% in volume (315,337 mt) and 7% lower in value ($1.29 billion). 
• Pork exports to China/Hong Kong, which are primarily variety meat, trended substantially lower in November, pushing January-November shipments 4% below the previous year’s pace at 466,511 mt, while value fell 6% to $1.18 billion. China’s live hog price in November averaged $0.93/lb compared to $1.60/lb in November 2022. Larger domestic production and inventories, combined with weak consumer demand, have slowed China’s 2023 import volumes. However, Hong Kong is currently battling a series of ASF outbreaks that has affected local production and could heighten the need for imports in coming months. 
• November exports of pork variety meat were slightly lower year-over-year, but January-November shipments remained on a record pace, increasing 11% from 2022 to 536,913 mt, valued at $1.26 billion (up 8%). These exports equated to nearly $11 per head slaughtered, also a record pace.     
• November pork export value equated to $66.20 per head slaughtered, down slightly year-over-year, while the January-November average increased 4% to a record $63.12 per head. Exports accounted for 30.1% of total November pork production and 26.2% for muscle cuts only, each up about one percentage point from a year ago. The January-November ratios were 29.4% of total production and 25.2% for muscle cuts, compared to 27.2% and 23.6%, respectively, in 2022 and matching the record share seen in 2021. 

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