USA

USMEF: October pork exports largest since March 2025

Pork

U.S. pork exports continued to build momentum in October, led by a record performance in leading market Mexico, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Posted on Jan 12 ,00:30

Pork exports totaled 264,657 metric tons (mt) in October, up 5% from a year ago, valued at $762.1 million (up 7%). Both volume and value were the largest since March, led by substantial growth in Mexico and year-over-year increases to Central America, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

January-October pork exports reached 2.43 million mt, just 2% below the record pace of 2024. Export value was also down 2% to $6.93 billion. The year-over-year difference is mostly due to a 20% decline in exports to China (which are mainly variety meats), where U.S. pork is subject to burdensome retaliatory duties.

“The latest export data confirm what I consistently hear from customers across the world and from our international staff – that global demand for U.S. red meat remains robust, despite tight supplies and formidable market access barriers”, said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom.

Record-large shipments to Mexico fuel strong October pork exports

October pork exports to Mexico totaled 123,058 mt, up 25% from a year ago and topping the previous record (April 2024) by 14%. Export value reached $289 million, up 33% year-over-year and exceeding the previous high (September 2025) by 11%. Through the first 10 months of 2025, shipments to Mexico were 7% above the previous year’s record pace at 1.01 million mt, while value climbed 11% to $2.33 billion.

With two months still to be reported, exports to Mexico already topped 1 million mt for the third consecutive year and $2 billion for the fourth straight year. But the U.S. industry faces a potential headwind in the year ahead, with Mexico opening an antidumping and anti-subsidy investigation on imports of U.S. hams and pork shoulders. USMEF is currently assisting exporters in responding to Mexico’s requests for information related to the investigation, as well as working closely with U.S. trade officials.

Led by gains in Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica, October pork exports to Central America climbed 19% year-over-year in volume (17,340 mt) and 26% in value ($59 million). Exports to both Honduras (6,085 mt, up 21%) and Guatemala (4,102 mt, up 35%) reached monthly records, while shipments to Costa Rica (2,358 mt, up 44%) were the second highest on record.  January-October shipments to the region were 20% above the previous year’s record pace at 149,111 mt, and 23% higher in value at $481 million. With the exception of Belize, every country in Central America is among the top 15 global destinations for U.S. pork.

After slowing in the first half of 2025, pork exports to South Korea posted year-over-year gains for the fourth consecutive month in October, reaching 12,563 mt (up 12%), valued at $41.3 million (up 8%). January-October exports to Korea were down 6% from a year ago at 171,045 mt, while value ($553.1 million) fell 11% from the record pace of 2024.

Other January-October results for U.S. pork exports include:

• October was an encouraging month for pork exports to Canada, which increased 6% from a year ago to 17,778 mt, while value climbed 14% to $72 million. Full market access was restored Sept. 1, when Canada lifted a 25% tariff on U.S. sausages that had taken effect in early March. For January through October, pork exports to Canada were down 14% from a year ago in volume (148,790 mt) and 11% lower in value ($617.3 million).
• Pork exports to Japan totaled 27,000 mt in October, up 5% from a year ago and the largest since May, while value was steady at $108 million. Through October, exports to Japan were 8% below the previous year’s pace in volume (262,083 mt) and 11% lower in value ($1.05 billion). Japan’s temporary suspension of pork imports from Spain (due to recent African swine fever cases) could enhance export opportunities in coming months.
• Led by year-over-year growth in the Philippines, October pork exports to the ASEAN region increased 34% to 7,841 mt, while export value increased 30% to $18.5 million. Through the first 10 months of 2025, shipments to the region increased 2% in value ($150.7 million) despite falling 4% in volume (64,250 mt). The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have also temporarily suspended pork imports from Spain.
• October pork exports to the Caribbean were modestly lower at 12,285 mt (down 6% year-over-year), but still achieved a 5% increase in value ($41.2 million). Led by growth in Cuba and the Bahamas and a fairly steady performance in the Dominican Republic, January-October shipments to the region increased 1% to 104,742 mt, while value climbed 6% to $325.2 million.
• Retaliatory duties weighed on U.S. pork exports throughout 2025. China’s total tariff on U.S. pork and most variety meat was 57% for much of last year (and prohibitively high at 172% in April-May), before being reduced to 47% in early November. Consumption has also weakened in China, while domestic production is record-large. For January through October, U.S. exports to China – the majority of which are pork variety meat – totaled 314,955 mt, down 20% from the same period in 2024 (when the total tariff rate was 37%), while value also declined 20% to $721.8 million.
• October pork export value equated to $64.44 per head slaughtered, up 8% from a year ago. The January-October average was $65.09 per head, down less than 1% from the same period in 2024. Exports accounted for 28.8% of total October pork production and 25.6% for muscle cuts, up from 27.6% and 23.8%, respectively, in October 2024. The January-October ratios were 29.6% of total production (down slightly year-over-year) and 25.9% for muscle cuts (up slightly).

Comments

Similar articles