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U.S. is world’s largest beef exporter

US Meat Export Federation CEO Phil Seng says there’s no bigger beef supplier than the United States.

“We’ve eclipsed our competitors in this regard, so with the increased production, I think that the export portion of the whole beef complex is pulling its weight,” said Seng, in a conference call to reporters Tuesday from the federation’s spring meeting, “and we have now become the largest exporter of beef in the world, and that’s quite a milestone.”

First quarter volume of beef exports to Japan is up 41 percent compared to a year ago, according to Seng.  Globally, the U.S. is exporting 15 percent more beef with a value 19 percent greater, he said.

“I think that’s quite significant,” added Seng.

The U.S. is exporting 17 percent more pork, he said, with Mexico and Korea each getting about 30 percent more U.S. pork than in the first quarter of 2016.

AUDIO: Phil Seng (9 min. MP3)