U.S. pork exports totaled 222,243 mt in August, down 6% from a year ago, while value fell 12% to $606.3 million. Most of this decline was due to lower shipments to Mexico, where domestic pork production has rebounded and demand for hams has softened in recent months. August pork exports trended higher than a year ago to Central America, Colombia and the Caribbean – growth markets where exports are on a record pace in 2026. But these results were offset by lower shipments to Mexico, Japan, Korea, China, Oceania and the ASEAN region.
For January through August, pork exports remained 1% higher than a year ago at 1.95 million mt, while value was steady at $5.47 billion. Compared to the record pace of 2024, exports were down 2% in volume and were 4% lower in value.
After racing to a strong start in 2026, pork exports to Mexico softened with the pseudorabies-related restrictions that began in May and this trend accelerated in August, with exports falling 12% from a year ago in volume (90,560 mt). August export value declined 22% from the large year-ago total, reaching $197.1 million. August shipments of pork variety meats slowed from the large year-ago volume, as many exporters were still pivoting from China back to Mexico.
For muscle cuts, August exports also slowed, in part reflecting increasing availability of domestic pork within Mexico. These results pushed January-August exports to Mexico 3% below last year’s record pace in volume (756,466 mt) and 4% lower in value ($1.72 billion).
Pork exports to other Western Hemisphere markets fared much better in August. Led by robust growth in Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, August shipments to Central America increased 18% from a year ago in volume (17,095 mt) and value ($56.3 million). Exports to the region are on a record pace through August, climbing 11% to 130,987 mt, while value increased 15% to $432.3 million.
After a slow first quarter, pork exports to Colombia have also rebounded to record levels in 2026. August exports to Colombia jumped 34% in volume (12,649 mt) and 35% in value ($37.7 million) from a year ago. This was the highest volume since the near-record total in May and otherwise the highest since March 2025. These results pushed January-August shipments to Colombia 5% above last year at 89,812 mt, while value increased 6% to $260.7 million.
Pork exports to China, which are primarily variety meats, trended lower in August at 29,528 mt (down 6%), while value fell 13% to $59.2 million. January-August shipments to China were 9% above last year in volume (271,354 mt) but value declined 4% to $560.6 million, reflecting the 47% tariff on U.S. pork and pork variety meat, as well as large Chinese pork production, against sluggish demand.
October 7, 2026/ USMEF/ United States.
https://www.usmef.org
