U.S. beef, lamb exports decline in September

The U.S. exported 79,474 metric tons of beef in September, a 21 percent drop from September 2014, but pork export volumes rose 6 percent year-over-year to 172,012 metric tons.    U.S. beef and lamb export volumes and value declined in September compared with last year, while pork export value dropped despite and increase in volumes, according to data provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, which was compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
   Beef statistics refer to both beef and beef variety meat; pork statistics refer to both pork and pork variety meat; and lamb statistics refer to lamb, mutton and lamb variety meat.
   For the month of September, the U.S. exported 79,474 metric tons of beef valued at $456.6 million, a year-over-year drop of 21 percent and 28 percent, respectively. The U.S. exported the highest volumes of beef to Mexico for the month at 18,820 metric tons, while Japan was the leading value market for beef exports at $99.7 million.
   Throughout September, the U.S. exported 172,012 metric tons of pork, an increase of 6 percent from September 2014. Overall pork export value, however, fell 11 percent year-over-year to $456.1 million. The U.S. exported the largest volumes of pork to Mexico for the month at 58,317 metric tons. Japan was the leading value market for pork exports at $133.9 million.
   U.S. lamb export volumes fell 26 percent year-over-year in September to 621 metric tons, in which 542 of the metric tons were exported to Mexico. Lamb export value fell 39 percent from September 2014 to $1.3 million.