U.S. meat export value slips in February

The United States exported $437 million of beef and $414.3 million of pork in February, year-over-year declines of 18.4 percent and 12 percent, respectively, due to abundant red meat supplies and a competitive international marketplace.    The United States experienced year-over-year decreases in beef, pork and lamb export values in February, while beef and lamb export volumes rose and pork export volumes declined, according to data provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
   More abundant red meat supplies and a competitive international marketplace hindered meat export value in February.
   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 83,203 metric tons of beef, a 0.3 percent increase from February 2015. In terms of value, U.S. beef exports tumbled 18.4 percent year-over-year to $437 million in February.
   The U.S. exported the highest volumes of beef to Mexico during the month at 16,603 metric tons, while Japan was the leading value market for beef exports at $86.8 million.
   Overall, for the first two months of 2016, beef export volumes rose in most Asian markets and Central America, compared to the corresponding period in 2015, while export volumes to the Middle East and the Caribbean remained steady. However, beef export volumes to Mexico and Canada experienced year-over-year declines in the first two months of the year.
   Meanwhile, the U.S. exported 171,413 metric tons of pork in February valued at $414.3 million, a year-over-year drop of 1.4 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
   Mexico was the leading market for pork exports in terms of volumes and value during the month, with the U.S. exporting 53,453 metric tons of pork valued at $90.4 million to the nation.
   “U.S. pork continues to regain traction in China/Hong Kong, but exports slowed to our other major Asian destinations,” USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng said in a statement.
   In February alone, the U.S. exported 40,927 metric tons of pork to China/Hong Kong, valued at $74.4 million, a year-over-year increase of 86.9 percent and 49.9 percent, respectively.
   “Declines in Chinese hog numbers and pork production have pushed prices to the highest level since 2011, triggering larger imports from all suppliers,” Seng said. “At the same time, the import market continues to receive large volumes of very competitively-priced product from Europe. We are in a battle for market share, not only in China but also in all key Asian markets.”
   Meanwhile, the U.S. saw lamb export volumes inch up 0.7 percent year-over-year in February to 830 metric tons, while lamb export value tumbled 24 percent year-over-year to $1.3 million.
   Mexico was the leading market for lamb export volumes (733 metric tons) and value ($690,000) during the month.
   “Volumes increased to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and Costa Rica, but were partially offset by lower exports to Saudi Arabia, the Bahamas and Panama,” the USMEF said.