Pork exports exceeding 2007 pace

16-01-2009 | Home | News

US Red meat exports continued their strong pace through November, with pork up 20% and beef up 9% (including variety meat) compared to November 2007, reports USMEF.

For the first 11 months of 2008, pork and pork variety meat exports were 61% larger than 2007, nearing the 2 million metric tonne mark. 2008 pork exports through 11 months were valued at $4.5 billion, an increase of 59%.

“Global protein supplies remain tight, with the exception of a few situations in key countries where stocks of imported red meat are weighing on the market, specifically in Korea and China,” said Erin Daley, US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) economist.©

“As currencies and prices stabilise, inventories will decline and demand for US red meat will likely continue at a relatively strong level. Although pork exports are not expected to maintain the stunning pace of 2008, they are forecast to exceed 2007 volumes,” Daley said.

Despite the slowing of global trade in all products, pork exports from the major suppliers, the European Union (EU), the US and Canada, remained fairly steady from September through November. Pork exports from Brazil, however, declined by 50% in November.

Access the USMEF breakdown of Pork Exports per region