U.S. beef, pork exports rise in February

However, U.S. lamb export volumes tumbled 41.3 percent in February from a year prior.    U.S. beef and pork exports increased in February from a year prior in terms of volumes and value, despite a drop in lamb exports, according to data provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
   Beef exports refer to beef and beef variety meat; pork exports refer to pork and pork variety meat; and lamb exports refer to lamb, mutton and lamb variety meat.
   During the month, the U.S. exported 90,417 metric tons of beef valued at $508.5 million, year-over-year increases of 8.7 percent and 16.4 percent, respectively, largely driven by volumes and value growth to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Canada.
   Japan was the leading market for U.S. beef exports in terms of volumes and value in February, with the U.S. exporting 23,789 metric tons of beef to Japan valued at $134,343 million.
   Total U.S. pork exports in February stood at 197,025 metric tons valued at $486.7 million, year-over-year increases of 14.9 percent and 17.5 percent, respectively.
   Mexico was the leading volumes market for U.S. pork exports in February at 64,990 metric tons, up 14.9 percent from February 2016, while U.S. pork export value to Mexico rose 17.5 percent year-over-year to $116 million. “Mexico’s strong demand is reflected not only in increased buying from the U.S., but also in relatively high domestic hog prices, as per capita consumption of pork continues to grow,” the USMEF said.
   However, Japan was the leading market for U.S. pork exports in terms of value during the month at $130.5 million.
   Despite an uptick in U.S. beef and pork exports in February, U.S. lamb exports were on the decline. During the month, the U.S. exported 487 metric tons of lamb valued at $1.3 million, year-over-year declines of 41.3 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, as lamb exports to Mexico, the top market for U.S. lamb exports, sharply declined, with volumes falling 45.7 percent year-over-year to 398 metric tons and value declining 21.6 percent to $541,000.