After setting new records for both volume and value last year, U.S. pork exports have gained even stronger momentum in 2012.
Through the first quarter, year-over-year pork exports were up eight percent in volume and 20 percent higher in value.
In March, pork export value, per head slaughtered, set a new all-time monthly record of $59.92.
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) chairman and Indiana pork producer Danita Rodibaugh says those numbers are “exciting”.
“Our prediction, not only from USMEF, but also other economists were that our exports would be challenged this year—but for pork, they were surprisingly up,” Rodibaugh says, “and we continue to see some positive returns in the export area, especially when we look at value per head. We’re just shy of sixty dollars per head return because of the export market.”
Rodibaugh says those results – especially the record-high export value per head – serve as a reminder of how critical pork exports are to producer profitability.
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