Beef Export Values Increase

October pork exports set new monthly record;
beef export value also strong.

U.S. pork exports set new monthly records in October, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), reaching 218,132 metric tons (mt) valued at $607 million. Export volume was 9% above last year and broke the previous monthly record of 217,080 mt set in November 2011. Export value exceeded $600 million for the first time, breaking the previous high ($597.85 million, also from November 2011) by 1.5%.

For January through October, U.S. pork exports were 3% ahead of last year’s record pace in volume (1.875 million mt) and 6% higher in value ($5.24 billion).

Beef exports also posted solid results in October, with export value ($496 million) increasing 10% over last year despite a 4% decline in volume (101,447 mt). This was consistent with this year’s January-October pattern, which has seen an 11% decline in volume (951,886 mt), compared to 2011, while export value ($4.6 billion) remained 2% ahead of last year’s record pace.

“With pork production at a very high level, the U.S. industry is relying on a strong performance from the international markets,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “We not only achieved that, but also maintained an excellent per-head return for producers.”

Seng added that in the beef complex, volume continues to struggle compared to last year, but export value is very strong.

“Considering the economic headwinds we face in several markets, beef export value is holding up extremely well — especially on a per-head basis,” he said. “For livestock producers who are facing some very tough obstacles, the export markets are truly a source of optimism.”

Canada, Japan stand out for October beef exports
October beef exports accounted for 10% of beef muscle cut production and 12.6% when including variety meat. This compared to 11% and 13.9%, respectively, in October 2011. For January-October, exports accounted for 9.8% of muscle cut production and 12.7% including variety meat — down from 11% and 14.2% during the same period last year. Export value per head of fed slaughter was 6% higher than a year ago, both in October ($222.03) and for January-October ($214.51).

Individual market highlights for U.S. beef included:

• Exports to Canada were the largest since August 2011, totaling 19,129 mt (+35% from a year ago) valued at $123.2 million (+66%). This pushed the January-October totals to 144,754 mt (-9%) valued at $952.8 million (+11%).
• Japan continued its strong recent performance with October exports of 12,829 mt valued at $91.8 million. This was up only slightly from last year’s volume but 25% higher in value. For January-October, export volume was steady at 134,036 mt while export value surged 24% to $898 million.
• Exports to Russia were record-large in October, totaling 11,702 (+70%) valued at $41.5 million (+55%). For January-October, exports to Russia climbed 15% in volume (73,625 mt) and 28% in value ($283.7 million).
• October exports to Central and South America were up just 1.5% in volume (2,211 mt) but increased 15% in value ($10.1 million). For January-October, exports to the region totaled 28,397 mt (+33%) valued at $109.3 million (+65%). Chile — the leading value market in the region for U.S. beef — recently announced resumption of beef imports from Paraguay, which has been out of the market for about one year due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). However, other strong growth markets for U.S. beef in the region include Peru, Guatemala, Panama and Honduras.
• Exports to Taiwan, which have been on the rebound since the recent adoption of a maximum residue level (MRL) for ractopamine, posted the best monthly performance since December 2011 at 3,759 mt (+25%) valued at $23.4 million (+34%). January-October totals remained far below last year, but the strong October results suggest a promising finish to 2012.

Exports to leading volume market Mexico continued to struggle as high prices have negatively impacted Mexico’s total beef consumption. Exports to Korea have also been well below last year’s pace, primarily due to record-high domestic beef production. This has impacted demand for beef imports not only from the United States, but also from other suppliers such as Australia and New Zealand.

Outstanding month for pork in nearly every major market
October pork exports accounted for 23% of muscle cut production and 27.4% when including variety meat. For January-October, these ratios were 23.6% and 27%, respectively. This was slightly higher than last year for muscle cuts (22.9%) and steady with last year’s percentage of total production exported. On a per-head-of-slaughter basis, October exports equated to $55.95 (compared to $57.93 in October 2011). For January through October, the per-head average increased 3.5% from a year ago to $56.14.

Several major pork export markets posted their best performances of the year in October, while others recorded their highest totals in several months. These included:

• Mexico, with its best month since January 2012, took 56,282 mt valued at $108.5 million. This pushed the January-October totals to 499,724 mt (+16% from the same period last year) valued at $928.5 million (+12%).
• Exports to Japan were the largest since March 2011, totaling 45,084 mt valued at $188.1 million. The January-October volume total was down 5% to 389,446 mt, but value was 4% ahead of last year’s record pace at $1.68 billion.
• Russia posted its largest total since May 2010, with 13,278 mt valued at $38.9 million. This pushed the January-October results to 86,566 mt (+30%) valued at $247.6 million (+20%).
• Exports to South Korea, below the record-setting totals of 2011 for most of this year, rebounded in October to 14,050 mt valued at just over $37 million — the best performance since March 2012. January-October totals remained well below last year (119,786 mt, –26% valued at $340 million, –19%), but these results still exceed corresponding 2010 levels by 73%. Korea’s domestic pork production was severely impacted by FMD in 2011, boosting demand for imported pork. Production rebounded strongly in 2012, so a year-over-year decline in U.S. exports was anticipated.

Strong October totals were also recorded in Canada, Oceania, Central and South America and the ASEAN region. Export volume to China/Hong Kong was down 36% from last year’s record total, but posted the best performance since April 2012. Through October, exports to this region were still up 10% in value at $716.89 million, but volume was 3% behind last year at 352,125 mt.

“Pork exports to China/Hong Kong are not expected to match last year’s fourth quarter surge,” Seng said. “But that makes the global results in October all the more impressive, illustrating the diversity of our export destinations.”

October lamb exports slip in volume but increase in value
Lamb exports in October were down 9% in volume from a year ago to 1,346 mt, but still achieved a 4.5% increase in value to $2.44 million. For January through October, exports were down 28% in volume (11,396 mt) and 15% in value ($22.1 million). Volumes were lower to all destinations, but export value increased to Canada ($4 million, +17%) and the Dominican Republic ($443,000, +20%).

Complete export results for pork, beef and lamb are available online.

Editor’s note: This release is from the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Export statistics refer to both muscle cuts and variety meat unless otherwise noted. One metric ton (mt) = 2,204.622 lb.

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