WASHINGTON, DC – Both U.S. beef and U.S. pork exports are on a record pace through September, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Beef exports posted one of the best months on record in September, as values soared 60 percent above last year while pork export volume was slightly below last year, but value increasing 8 percent.
Beef exports for the month hit their fourth best month in 20 years (123,628 metric tons), a 20 percent year over year increase, and values hit their second best month post-BSE ($954.1 million).
For the first three quarters of this year, beef exports are runninig 18 percent higher (1.08 million mt) with the value up 36 percent ($7.58 billion).
Japan, South Korea and China/Hong Kong are all on track to be $2 billion destinations for U.S. beef this year, with strong growth in chilled beef exports to Japan and Korea, and beef exports to most Western Hemisphere markets are also trending significantly higher than a year ago.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)