Pork exports shine - Beef aims for recovery

Aug 14, 2023

The US pork industry celebrates an excellent start to 2023. As per USMEF data, June pork exports rose by 12%, equating to 245,964 metric tons (mt). This surge brought the six-month total to a robust 1.47 million mt, with a value of $4.05 billion.

Mexico showed an exciting 21% growth in first-half value, setting a record. There were also notable increases in exports to regions like Australia, Taiwan, and the Dominican Republic. An outstanding 32% jump was seen in pork variety meat exports to China.

Dan Halstrom, USMEF's head, praised the widespread international growth, highlighting strides in the Asia-Pacific and Western Hemisphere.

The beef sector faced some hurdles. June exports came to 115,107 mt, showing a 12% dip from last year. The value, however, marked at $909.5 million, held potential. The first half's performance was 10% below the previous year but 8% above 2021.

Countries like Taiwan, Mexico, and Canada provided hopeful statistics. Some markets, such as South Korea, China, and Japan, did experience a drop, but potential remains.

Halstrom emphasized the steady contribution of beef exports to total production, underlining their significance in overall value. In contrast, lamb exports saw a downturn, especially in the second quarter. June figures displayed a 56% decrease in volume and a 45% drop in value.

Video: Research in Action | Swine Cluster 4 - Activity 8: Precision Feeding with Dr. Aline Remus

Research in Action is a video series from Swine Innovation Porc that highlights the people and projects driving innovation in Canada's pork sector.

In this episode, Dr. Aline Remus (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) explains how precision feeding is helping producers improve efficiency, reduce feed costs and lower environmental impacts while supporting animal health and welfare.

As part of Swine Cluster 4 - Activity 8, this research is advancing precision livestock farming by tailoring nutrition to the needs of individual pigs or groups of pigs. The project aims to reduce feed costs, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses, and develop practical precision feeding systems that producers can confidently adopt on-farm.

By bringing together researchers from across Canada and around the world, this work is helping transform innovative research into practical solutions for a more sustainable and competitive Canadian pork sector.