U.S. Pork Exports Gain Momentum

U.S. Pork exports finished 2009 on a positive note, which has helped jumpstart an upward trend in 2010.

U.S. Pork exports closed the year with an 8 percent jump in volume and 6 percent increase in value for December, compared to year-ago totals. For the calendar year, pork exports registered the second-highest total in history, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Overall, U.S. Pork and pork variety meat exports equated to 22.5 percent of U.S. production in 2009. U.S. Pork outpaced the performance of global competitors, which slumped 15 percent in value in 2009, led by a 22 percent drop for European Union pork producers.

“It has been a challenging year for pork producers, but it’s encouraging to see consumer confidence returning and very positive signs of growth,” says Philip Seng, president and CEO of the USMEF, which is responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded in part by the Pork Checkoff.

In 2009, U.S. Pork and pork variety meat exports exceeded 2007 levels by 43 percent in volume and 37 percent in value. Mexico was the volume leader with 503,503 metric tons (1.11 billion pounds) valued at $762.35 million – an increase of 27 percent and 10 percent, respectively, compared to 2008. This record-breaking performance was particularly impressive considering the country’s sluggish economy and a temporary midyear disruption in pork demand due to H1N1 influenza.

U.S. pork recorded another spectacular year in Japan, falling just short ($1.54 billion versus $1.545 billion) of the value record set in 2008. This was achieved despite an increase of about 5 percent in Japan’s domestic pork production. The U.S. share of Japan’s imported pork market also reached an all-time high of 46 percent.

“Through our partnership, the Pork Checkoff and USMEF are accomplishing goals that we couldn’t do on our own,” says Tim Bierman, a pork producer from Larrabee, Iowa, who serves as president of the National Pork Board.

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