June pork exports were below last year, largely due to a sharp decline in pork variety meat exports attributable to pseudorabies-related restrictions that have since been lifted by Mexico and Colombia, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Pork exports totaled 224,822 mt in June, down 6% from a year ago, with value falling 9% to $624.5 million. While pork muscle cuts were modestly lower, most of the decline was due to a 21% drop in pork variety meat exports. As USMEF previously reported, Mexico and Colombia suspended imports of U.S. pork offal at the beginning of May, and this situation was not resolved until early July for Colombia and mid-July for Mexico. Fortunately, these countries have now removed pseudorabies-related restrictions on pork variety meat, though exporters still face prolonged clearance times in China due to heightened inspections.
June pork exports to Mexico were still relatively strong, though down significantly from the large totals posted a year ago. Exports increased year-over-year in June to Japan, Colombia, Central America and the Dominican Republic, but declined to China, Korea, Oceania and the ASEAN region.
For the first half of 2026, pork exports totaled 1.51 million mt, up 4% from a year ago, while value increased 3% to $4.22 billion. Export volume to Mexico was slightly lower, but value remained steady with last year’s record pace. Exports are also on a record pace to Central America and the Dominican Republic and increased substantially to Japan.
“Although the June data certainly show the impact of Mexico’s restrictions on U.S. pork variety meats, the good news is that this issue was resolved the right way – with full access restored and no limits on pipeline product,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “USMEF greatly appreciates the engagement by USDA, which resulted in the full lifting of the restrictions imposed by Mexico and Colombia. Meanwhile, thanks to an outstanding performance in Japan and the CAFTA-DR region, pork exports are not far off the record pace we saw in 2024.”
Pork exports to Japan closed the first half with a solid June performance, reaching 28,377 mt, up 8% from a year ago, valued at $107.8 million (up 2%). Japan’s demand for U.S. pork has rebounded impressively in 2026, with first-half exports climbing 17% from a year ago to 189,707 mt, while value increased 12% to $721.3 million.
Led by growth in Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica, pork exports to Central America were just under 16,000 mt in June, up 17% from a year ago, while value climbed 22% to $53 million. Exports to the region are on a record pace through June, increasing 9% from a year ago in volume (97,737 mt) and 15% in value ($323.7 million). Central America surpassed Canada as the fifth-largest volume destination for U.S. pork in the first half, despite exports to Canada also trending higher than a year ago. The region ranks sixth in export value.
June pork exports to the Dominican Republic reached 7,355 mt in June, up 4% from a year ago, while value increased 5% to $21.7 million. These results capped an outstanding first half in which shipments to the DR surpassed the 2023 record pace, soaring 30% in volume (58,518 mt) and 29% in value ($170.3 million).
Other first-half results for U.S. pork exports include:
- Pork exports to Colombia were the second largest on record in May at more than 14,000 mt, and shipments were strong again in June. Exports soared 41% from a year ago in both volume (11,929 mt) and value ($34.8 million) in June, despite restrictions (see above) that limited demand for pork offal and further processed products (although about 95% of exports to Colombia are pork muscle cuts and only 5% are typically variety meats). After a slow start to the year, first-half exports to Colombia pulled 1% ahead of last year’s pace in both volume (66,788 mt) and value ($193 million). Exports are on pace to be record-large in 2026.
- While well below the large year-ago totals, June pork exports to Mexico still reached 91,743 mt (down 11%), valued at $212.1 million (down 15%). The decrease in pork variety meat exports to Mexico in May and June neared $30 million. Access for U.S. pork offal wasn’t fully restored until mid-July, but July should be the last month in which exports were pinched by pseudorabies-related restrictions. For January through June, exports to Mexico were 2% below the record pace of last year at 576,465 mt, but export value was steady at $1.3 billion. Pork muscle cut exports to Mexico totaled 507,496 mt in the first half, up 2%, although volume dropped below year-ago in both May and June. Export value for muscle cuts totaled $1.17 billion, also up 2%.
- June pork exports to China, where U.S. pork is subject to retaliatory duties and domestic production is at a record-high level, totaled 30,900 mt, down 7% from a year ago. Export value was down 16% to $72.7 million. First-half exports to China increased 15% from a year ago to 208,333 mt, while value was steady at $434.5 million. But note that last year, April and May shipments to China were impacted by an escalation of tariffs. Pork variety meat makes up more than 70% of total U.S. pork shipments to China.
- As noted above, pork exports to Canada have trended higher in 2026. Through June, shipments totaled 91,300 mt, up 7% from a year ago, with value up 5% to $365 million. Canada is a key destination for value-added processed products, raw material for further processing and fresh pork for retail.
- Although exports to Taiwan trended lower in June, demand for U.S. pork showed signs of a rebound in the first half. January-June exports totaled 5,983 mt, up 26% from a year ago, while value increased 19% to $13.5 million. U.S. pork still captured just 6% of Taiwan’s imports. Even with imports from Spain restricted, the European Union held 52% share in Taiwan, followed by Canada with 30% and Paraguay with 10%.
- Pork export value equated to $59.49 per head slaughtered in June, down 13% from the high year-ago average. First-half export value equated to $66.63 per head, up 2% from a year ago. Exports accounted for 27.5% of total pork production and 24.5% of muscle cuts, down substantially from the respective year-ago ratios of 31.3% and 26.7%. First-half ratios remained higher than a year ago at 30.3% of total production (up from 29.6%) and 26.7% of muscle cuts (up from 26.1%).
