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USMEF: Pork exports just short of 2024 record

Pork

U.S. pork exports posted the second highest value and third largest volume on record in 2025, according to year-end data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Posted on Feb 24 ,00:30

December pork exports totaled 257,846 metric tons (mt), down 3.5% from the large volume posted a year ago, but still the third largest of 2025. Export value was $746 million, down 3% but also the third highest of the year. December shipments trended higher year-over-year to Mexico, reaching the second largest monthly volume and value on record. Exports also increased to South Korea, Japan, the Caribbean, ASEAN and Taiwan. But these results were offset by lower volumes to China, Canada, Central and South America and Oceania.

The December results pushed total 2025 pork exports to 2.94 million mt, down 3% from the 2024 record but the third largest on record (also slightly below 2020). Export value was also down 3% from the 2024 record but was the second highest ever at $8.4 billion. Exports were record-large to leading market Mexico and to Central America and the Caribbean. Exports to Colombia were down less than 1% from 2024’s volume record and reached a new high in value.

“Last year was outstanding for U.S. pork, especially in our Western Hemisphere markets,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Demand in these destinations has maintained multi-year momentum, and duty-free access to our FTA partner countries is a foundational factor in this growth. We are hopeful that current trade negotiations will not only maintain this access, but remove barriers for U.S. pork in other markets.”

December was another remarkable month for U.S. pork shipments to Mexico, which climbed 7% from a year ago to 113,819 mt, the second largest on record. Export value reached $276 million – up 8%, also the second highest on record. For the full year, exports to Mexico were record-large for the fifth consecutive year, topping previous highs by 7% in volume (1.236 million mt) and 10% in value ($2.85 billion). These results included more than 184,000 mt of pork variety meat (up 15% from 2024), valued at nearly $325 million (up 13%).

This increase in demand is especially important because U.S. pork is subject to retaliatory duties in China, the primary destination for U.S. pork variety meat.

As USMEF has previously reported, Mexico is currently conducting an antidumping and anti-subsidy investigation on U.S. pork hams and shoulders. The U.S. industry is participating in the investigation and will be submitting detailed information refuting the notion that these products – which are selling at strong prices driven by robust demand – are being dumped on the Mexican market.

Although December pork exports to Central America were lower year-over year, shipments to the region were still record-large in 2025. Fueled by record performances in Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, exports exceeded the previous (2024) record by 10% in volume (182,249 mt) and 13% in value ($592.7 million). Over the past five years, pork exports to Central America have climbed 84% in volume and 146% in value.

Strong demand in the Dominican Republic and Cuba pushed December pork exports to the Caribbean to 13,560 mt, up 31% from a year ago, while value soared 35% to $45.1 million. These results solidified full-year records for the region, as 2025 exports climbed 4% in volume (132,697 mt) and 10% in value ($417.7 million).

Other 2025 export results for U.S. pork include:

• Despite a decline in China (see below), variety meat demand was a December bright spot for U.S. pork, as shipments reached 49,789 mt – up 9% year-over-year and the largest since August. Export value was $104.8 million, up 3% and the highest since March. In addition to the gains previously mentioned in Mexico, December variety meat exports increased year-over-year to the Philippines, Central America, Colombia, Japan and the Dominican Republic. For the full year, variety meat exports were down 7% to 547,271 mt, while value declined 9% to $1.18 billion. 
• After a slow start to the year, pork exports to South Korea regained momentum in the second half, posting year-over-year gains in six consecutive months. Full-year export volume to Korea was down 4% from 2024 at 206,631 mt, while value was 8% below the 2024 record at $667.1 million.
• Pork exports to Colombia followed the opposite trend, exceeding the record pace of 2024 for most of last year but losing momentum in the fourth quarter. Full-year exports to Colombia were down less than 1% from the previous record at 124,031 mt. Export value topped the 2024 record by 2%, reaching $365.4 million.
• December pork exports to Japan were up slightly year-over-year at 24,370 mt, while export value was steady at $94.4 million. For the full year, exports to Japan were down 8% from 2024 in volume (310,864 mt) and were 11% lower in value ($1.24 billion).
• U.S. pork has faced numerous obstacles in Taiwan, but an agreement on reciprocal trade announced last week is aimed at reducing both tariff rates and non-tariff barriers. December was an encouraging month for pork exports to Taiwan, as shipments climbed 143% (to 1,187 mt) from the low total posted a year ago and export value jumped 139% to $3.2 million.
• Weighed down by retaliatory duties and sluggish overall demand, pork exports to China – more than 70% of which are variety meat – were down 21% from 2024 at 367,416 mt, while value fell 23% to $857.5 million.
• While down 10% from the robust year-ago average, December pork export value per head slaughtered remained strong at $64.73. The 2025 per-head average was $65.47, down just 1.6% from the 2024 record. Exports accounted for 28.5% of total December pork production, down from the very robust year-ago ratio of 31.9%. For muscle cuts only, exports accounted for 24.7% of production, which was down from 28.4%. The 2025 ratios were 29.6% of total production and 26.1% for muscle cuts, both down slightly from 2024.

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