US pork exports to Mexico are rising
US pork exports to Mexico continued to gain momentum in November at 87,440 tonnes, up 34% from a year ago, with value up 23% to $152.1 million. Through November, exports to Mexico totaled 794,597 tonnes, up 29% and just short of the annual record achieved in 2017 (802,000 mt). Export value has already set a new annual record at $1.54 billion, up 51% from a year ago, informs US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Demand for US pork continues to surge in Central America, where exports had already set new annual volume and value records through October. In November, led by strong growth in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica, exports climbed 30% to 13,887 tonnes, valued at $39.8 million (up 49%). For January through November, exports to the region jumped 45% from a year ago to 124,879 tonnes, while value was 62% higher at $339.2 million.
Following a difficult year in 2020, pork exports to Colombia have rebounded strongly, surpassing the pre-COVID pace of 2019. November exports to Colombia totaled 14,094 tonnes, up 85% from a year ago, while value climbed 94% to $34.2 million. Through November, exports increased 62% from a year ago to 96,751 tonnes, valued at $235.3 million (up 81% and a new annual record).
Strong demand was seen also in Asia, whit South Korea and Japan have increased their purchase of US pork from the levels reached in the first 11 months of 2020. Due in part to surging retail demand for chilled pork, exports to Korea regained momentum in 2021. Through November, exports increased 7% from a year ago to 152,309 tonnes, while value climbed 22% to $502.8 million.
Through November, exports to Japan were 3% above last year’s pace at 362,501 tonnes, with value up 4% to $1.55 billion. Exports of chilled pork to Japan were up 4% to 197,177 tonnes, valued at $963 million.
However, increasing costs of labor and input, transportation obstacles are already seen as a challenge for the US red meat industry. "It’s very gratifying to see red meat exports setting new annual records and achieving remarkable growth over a wide range of markets. It is important, however, that we do not take this success for granted or allow it to detract from the challenges facing US agriculture. Global demand for US red meat has never been stronger, but labor and transportation obstacles and high input costs across the supply chain make it increasingly difficult to satisfy this demand. USMEF greatly appreciates the effort by lawmakers, maritime regulators and other officials to address the persistent congestion at US ports, but this continues to be a costly and frustrating situation for US exporters and their international customers," commented Dan Halstrom, USMEF President and CEO.
Pork exports totaled 237,547 tonnes in November, down 8% from a year ago, while value was 6% lower at $658.3 million. Through November, export volume fell slightly below the record pace of 2020 at 2.71 million tonnes. Export value was $7.5 billion, up 7% from a year ago and rapidly approaching the annual record ($7.71 billion) set in 2020.
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