U.S. meat exports increase in volumes, decline in value

The United States exported more volumes of beef, pork, and lamb in January compared to last year, but in terms of value, each segment experienced declines.    The United States saw increases in beef, pork and lamb export volumes in January compared to the prior year, but it terms of export value, each of the three segments experienced declines, 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.
   U.S. beef exports reached 82,301 metric tons in January, a 3 percent increase from January 2015. In terms of value, U.S. beef exports fell 13 percent year-over-year to $438.1 million.
   In January, Japan was the leading market for beef exports in terms of volumes and value. During the month, the U.S. exported 16,762 metric tons of beef to Japan valued at $93.2 million.
   “Exports to most Asian markets, which were impacted early last year by the West Coast port labor impasse, increased in January, but these gains were largely offset by lower volumes shipped to Western Hemisphere markets and the Middle East,” the USMEF said.
   For U.S. pork exports, volumes totaled 167,010 metric tons in January, up 4 percent from January 2015, but in terms of value, pork exports fell 11 percent year-over-year to $404.7 million.
   The U.S. exported the highest volumes of pork to Mexico at 55,042 metric tons, while Japan was the leading value market for pork exports at $113.5 million. However, both of these markets experienced declines in terms of volume and value compared to January 2015.
   U.S. lamb exports in January skyrocketed 35 percent year-over-year to 971 metric tons, but lamb export value tumbled 13 percent year-over-year to $1.5 million.
   Mexico was the leading export market for lamb in terms of volumes and value, with the U.S. exporting 702 metric tons of lamb valued at $661,000 to the nation during the month.