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: The Next Pork Disease Outbreak? How Biosecurity Can Stop It Before It Starts!

The threat of disease outbreaks remains one of the biggest challenges facing pork producers across North America. At the World Pork Expo, I spoke with Rob Hannam, CEO of Farm Health Guardian, to discuss why biosecurity is more critical than ever and how innovative technology is helping producers reduce risk before disease reaches the farm.
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Learn how digital biosecurity tools can help producers identify risks, improve compliance, and create stronger defenses against costly disease outbreaks. Discover why leading pork operations are adopting technology-driven biosecurity solutions to safeguard animals, employees, and the future of the industry.