News

Beef exports remain solid; pork still facing headwinds

U.S. beef exports remained very strong in September while pork exports continued to be impacted by retaliatory duties in China and Mexico, according to the latest report from the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

USMEF says September beef export volume was up six percent from a year ago with beef export value up 11 percent. Pork export volume in September was down two percent from a year ago while the pork export value fell seven percent.

USMEF president and CEO Dan Hallstrom says, despite the trade disputes, the global supply-and-demand dynamics for beef and pork are still very positive.

“We’re seeing increasing per-capita consumption in a lot of these regions around the world, both developed and underdeveloped,” Hallstrom says.” As we see per-capita consumption increase, the ability of these markets to increase production domestically is limited. Thus the demand driver for imported beef and pork.”

Hallstrom says the trade disputes underscore the need for the meat industry to diversify its markets.

“Our mainstay markets continue to be very important—Japan, Mexico, Korea, and of course, Hong Kong and China. But we’re starting to see developing regions emerge more and more every month—Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, South Africa, Angola—just to name a few. This is something we’re really focused on.”

Hallstrom made those comments during a media conference call prior to the USMEF Strategic Planning Conference in Long Beach, California.

AUDIO: Dan Hallstrom