U.S. beef, pork exports rise in October

The United States exported higher amounts of beef and pork in terms of volumes and value in October compared to a year prior, but lamb exports were on the decline.

   The United States exported more beef and pork in terms of both volumes and value in October from a year prior, while lamb exports were on the decline, 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.
   In October, the U.S. exported 105,938 metric tons of beef valued at $559.5 million, year-over-year increases of 12.1 percent and 10.1 percent, respectively.
   Mexico was the leading market for U.S. beef exports in terms of volumes during the month at 21,132 metric tons, while Japan was the leading value market for U.S. beef exports at $119.8 million.
   Meanwhile, the U.S. exported 201,936 metric tons of pork in October, a 14 percent increase from a year prior. In terms of value, U.S. pork exports rose 16.4 percent from last October to $521.2 million.
   Mexico was the leading volumes market for U.S. pork exports at 65,271 metric tons, while Japan was the top value market for U.S. pork exports at $127.9 million.
   U.S. lamb export volumes fell 31.1 percent year-over-year in October to 600 metric tons, while U.S. lamb export value slipped 4 percent to $1.4 million.
   Mexico was the leading market for U.S. lamb exports in terms of volumes and value, with the U.S. exporting 427 metric tons valued at $498,000 to Mexico during the month.
   “With strong support from USDA, our U.S. industry partners and our international contacts, USMEF has intensified its marketing efforts in key destinations and capitalized on opportunities to regain market share – not only in mainstay markets such as Japan, Mexico and South Korea, but in a wide range of countries,” USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng said. “This has laid the groundwork for a strong finish to this year and further growth in 2017.”