US pork exports were below year-ago levels for the fifth consecutive month, due in part to a sharp decline in variety meat shipments, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
September pork exports totalled 216,353 mt, down 7.5% from a year ago, while value fell 13.5% to $591.3 million. Exports remain on a record pace to Central America, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, and September shipments were record-large to Cuba. September exports also increased year-over-year to Japan, Canada and Taiwan, but these results were offset by lower shipments to Mexico, China, Oceania and the ASEAN region.
January-September pork exports remained slightly above last year’s pace at 2.17 million mt (up 0.3%), but export value slipped 2% to $6.1 billion.
"Global hog prices have come under intense pressure in recent months, and export value is feeling the impact of this situation," said USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom. "Domestic production has rebounded in various countries, including Mexico, and there is still a lingering impact from Mexico’s suspension of US pork variety meat exports earlier this year."
"While that impasse is now resolved, it takes time for the supply chain to recover. US pork also still faces retaliatory tariffs in China, where overproduction is pressuring the market," he added. "In other regions, low-priced product from Brazil and Spain has reduced the competitiveness of US pork."