Although May exports of U.S. pork were higher year-over-year, volumes were significantly diminished by Mexico’s restrictions on pork offal items, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Pork exports totaled 245,874 metric tons (mt) in May, up 10% from a year ago, with value up 8% to $701 million. But exports in May 2025 were unusually low due to heightened trade tensions with China, which temporarily pushed China’s tariff rate on U.S. pork as high as 172%. This impasse heavily impacted exports of pork variety meat, which totaled just over 30,000 mt in May 2025. While pork variety meat exports exceeded 40,000 mt in May 2026, this was easily the lowest total of the year as January-April shipments averaged nearly 49,000 mt. May variety meat exports to Mexico were just 3,157 mt, down 80% from a year ago, due to restrictions imposed after the April 30 detection of pseudorabies virus (PRV) antibodies in five boars in Iowa. May bright spots for U.S. pork included the largest shipments to Japan since 2021, an outstanding performance from Colombia and strong growth in Central America. Export value per head slaughtered topped $71.
For January through May, pork and pork variety meat exports totaled 1.28 million mt, up 5% from a year ago, while value was also up 5% to $3.59 billion. In both volume and value, pork exports are less than 1% below the record pace established in 2024.
“While U.S. pork exports are posting a strong performance in 2026, the May results underscore the urgent need for Mexico to fully remove its PRV-related restrictions on pork offal and other products,” USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom explained. “This situation is costing the U.S. industry millions of dollars per week and severely impacting customers in Mexico, who are scrambling to find alternative products and suppliers.”
Although Mexico modified its restrictions in early June to allow pork offal shipments from states other than Iowa and Texas, source verification requirements, and the importance of Iowa as the leading hog-producing state, continue to pose significant obstacles for exporters.
As noted above, pork exports to leading market Mexico, which were on a record pace through April, were weighed down heavily in May by PRV-related restrictions on pork offal. Mexico is normally the second largest destination for U.S. pork variety meats, after China. It is the dominant market for pork skins and jowls, and critical for items such as snouts, stomachs, tongues and hearts.
With variety meat shipments falling dramatically, total pork plus pork variety meat exports to Mexico reached just 81,047 mt in May – down 17% from a year ago and the lowest since July 2023. Export value totaled $185.7 million, down 14% (or $30 million) and breaking a string of 13 consecutive months in which exports to Mexico exceeded $200 million.
For January through May, exports to Mexico were still slightly ahead of last year’s volume pace at 484,722 mt, while value increased 3% to $1.09 billion. Although some offal shipments to Mexico resumed in early June, exports are expected to remain significantly below year-ago levels until Mexico’s PRV-related restrictions are fully removed.
Japan’s demand for U.S. pork continued to gain momentum in May, as exports totaled 37,872 mt, up 26% from a year ago and the largest since March 2021. Value increased 25% to $145.7 million – the highest since November 2021. For January through May, exports to Japan were 19% above last year’s pace at 161,330 mt, and were 14% higher in value at $613.7 million.
Led by growth in Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala, pork exports to Central America continued to shine in May. Shipments reached 16,187 mt, up 10% from a year ago, while value climbed 11% to $53.1 million. For January through May, exports to the region were 8% above last year’s record pace at 81,741 mt, valued at $270.7 million (up 13%).
Other January-May results for U.S. pork exports include:
- Pork exports to Colombia had pulled back in recent months but rebounded impressively in May, posting the second largest monthly volume and value on record. Shipments totaled 14,397 mt, up 14% from a year ago, while value increased 19% to $41.5 million. Through the first five months of the year, exports to Colombia were 5% below last year’s pace in both volume (54,859 mt) and value ($158.3 million). Colombia also imposed PRV-related restrictions on pork offal, similar to those in Mexico, but they came later in May and it is a relatively small market for pork variety meats. The restrictions mainly impacted exports of jowls and further processed products, and Colombian regulators recently published a resolution removing them.
- May pork exports to the Dominican Republic reached 9,557 mt, up 22% from a year ago, while value climbed 27% to $27.5 million. Through May, shipments to the DR were 34% above last year’s pace at 51,163 mt, valued at $148.6 million (up 33%). Exports are currently on pace to surpass the 2023 annual record.
- In the Philippines, where African swine fever continues to weigh on domestic production, U.S. pork exports have trended higher in 2026. May exports totaled 6,302 mt, up 74% from a year ago, while value was 67% higher at $12.7 million. January-May shipments to the Philippines were 30% above last year in volume (27,234 mt) and 17% higher in value ($56.9 million). This was driven by a significant jump in pork variety meat exports to 17,590 mt, up 53%, valued at $22.3 million, up 24%. The Philippines is the third largest export market for U.S. pork variety meat, after China and Mexico.
- As noted above, pork exports to China – which are primarily variety meat – were unusually low in May 2025. So the large year-over-year increase in May (37,518 mt, up 458%, valued at $76 million, up 267%) really represents a return to more normal levels. For January through May, exports to China were 20% above last year’s pace at 177,433 mt. Value increased only 3% to $373.3 million, as U.S. exports are still penalized by China’s retaliatory duties.
- Pork export value per head slaughtered was outstanding in May at $71.49, up 15% from a year ago and the ninth highest on record. The January-May average was $68.05 per head, up 6% from the same period last year. Exports accounted for 31.9% of total May pork production and 28.7% of muscle cuts, up significantly from the respective year-ago ratios of 27.8% and 25.9%. The January-May ratios were 30.9% of total production (up from 29.3%) and 27.1% for muscle cuts (up from 26%).
