US beef exports climb, pork exports slightly lower in June

Aug 09, 2024
By Farms.com

June shows strong beef export growth, pork remains above last year's pace

June witnessed a remarkable increase in the value of US beef exports, achieving the highest figures since August 2022, according to the US Meat Export Federation.

Although pork exports decreased compared to last year, they still managed to outpace the record value set in 2023 over the first half of the year.

In detail, beef exports saw a slight 4% decline in volume but increased in value by 3%, totaling $938.3 million. This rise was driven by excellent market performances in Asia and North America, particularly in Japan and Korea.

Despite facing economic challenges, the demand in these regions has remained strong, aided by a boost in tourism and lower beef inventories in Japan.

Pork exports, however, experienced a 9% drop in volume and a 5% decline in value in June, although the cumulative results for the first half were still ahead of the previous year's records.

Notable increases were seen in exports to Korea and Central America, indicating robust demand in these regions despite the overall downturn.

This contrasting performance in beef and pork exports underscores the complexities of the global meat trade and highlights the resilience and potential growth areas within the US export market.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.