October 31, 2013
US August beef exports up, pork stable
Bolstered by a strong performance of the top three international markets, US beef exports showed an upward path in August while sales to China and several up-and-coming markets helped pork exports stay nearly even with last year''s record-setting pace.
According to statistics released by the USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), beef sales to Japan, Mexico and Canada all posted solid gains in August along with a resurgent Taiwan market as overall US beef exports grew 5% in volume and 16% in value compared to year-ago levels, reaching 105,544 tonnes valued at US$563.3 million.
Pork exports were bolstered by the largest sales to the China/Hong Kong region since February, as well as strong performances by the Central/South America and ASEAN regions. Total exports for August were down a fraction in volume (174,281 tonnes) but up 1% in value (US$501.1 million), while 2013 totals were down 4.6% in volume (1,405,078 tonnes) and 4.5% in value (US$3.94 billion).
The continued absence of the Russian market which was closed to US beef and pork products since February, continues to hinder exports. Excluding Russia, US pork exports to all other markets are only down 1% this year, while beef exports are up 8% in volume and 16% in value.
"Challenges appear in many forms, including market closures and disruptions, international competition and product oversupply," said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO.
Both pork and beef exports produced solid per-head values in August. The export value per head of fed slaughter for beef in August averaged US$253.87, up US$46.16 from last year. For pork, per-head totals were US$52.43, up from US$49.84 last year. Pork exports accounted for 21% of muscle cut production and 25% of total production (including variety meat) in August, similar to last year. Beef exports accounted for 11% of muscle cuts and 13.6% of total production, up roughly one percentage point for each.
Top two markets for US pork exports this year remain to be Mexico and Japan. Exports to Mexico, the top volume market, slowed slightly in August, but volume remains up 1% for the year at 396,605 tonnes and value is up 3% to US$747.5 million, while exports to Japan dipped 14% in volume and 10% in value in August. Totals for 2013 stand at 284,970 tonnes valued at US$1.26 billion, down 7% and 6%, respectively.
A rebound in exports to China/Hong Kong in August (up 28.7% in volume to 39,202 tonnes valued at US$83.2 million, a 37.5% increase) helped bring year-to-date totals to 278,253 tonnes (down 2%) valued at US$592.1 million (up 4%).
Other top-performing pork markets in August include: Central/South America - up 26% in volume (9,011 tonnes) and 27% in value (US$22.2 million)- exports to Chile jumped 276% in volume (1,820 tonnes) and 197% in value (US$4.3 million) while exports to Colombia, were up 30% in volume and value (2,531 tonnes and US$6.5 million); ASEAN region - up 38% in volume (5,734 tonnes) and 55% in value (US$14.3 million)- paced by Singapore''s 175% increase in volume (1,958 tonnes) and 263% jump in value (US$5.4 million) and exports to the Philippines up 18% in volume (3,744 tonnes) and value up 30% (US$8.8 million).
The top three export markets for US beef all performed well in August. USMEF''s continued efforts to capitalise on expanded access for American beef in Japan helped sustain growth which amounted to a 36.5% hike in volume (24,009 tonnes) and 13.3% in value (US$135.1 million) in August. For the year, US exports to Japan are up 53% in volume (166,884 tonnes) and 38% in value (US$990.9 million).
Totals for Mexico in August rose 11.2% in volume: 20,208 tonnes valued at US$88.9 million, a 24% jump, which helped year-to-date totals that are down 7% in volume and 5% in value (130,897 tonnes valued at US$559.7 million). Exports to Canada were up 9.3% in volume (15,355 tonnes) and 7.6% in value (US$104.6 million). Yearly totals are up 8% in volume (119,896 tonnes) and 12% in value (US$825.5 million).
Other top-performing beef markets in August included: Hong Kong - up 67% in volume (11,904 tonnes) and 142% in value (US$78.2 million); South Korea - up 35.8% in value (US$47.8 million) on slightly 2.6% lower volume of 7,646 tonnes; Taiwan - up 578% in volume (3,092 tonnes) and 684% in value (US$24.9 million); Central/South America - up 13% (3,747 tonnes) in volume and 24% in value (US$14.7 million), led by strong growth to Chile - up 37.7% in volume (1,139 tonnes) and 43.1% in value (US$6.6 million).