Pork demand rose in global markets
July brought mixed results for U.S. meat exports, according to data from the USDA and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork exports showed resilience in several key markets, while beef exports continued to struggle under trade restrictions.
Pork exports totaled 238,922 metric tons, just 1% below the same month last year. The value of these exports fell 4% to $680.9 million, mainly due to a 10% decline in pork variety meat prices linked to tariffs in China. Despite this dip, pork exports accounted for a larger share of U.S. production compared to last year.
Mexico remained the top destination for American pork, with steady demand continuing to drive shipments. Additional growth came from Central America, Colombia, the Caribbean, and the ASEAN region. Pork variety meats also performed strongly, recording their second-largest volume of the year.
From January through July 2025, pork exports were down 4% compared to last year’s record levels in both volume, at 1.69 million metric tons, and value, at $4.8 billion.
“While July exports to Mexico didn’t match the monster totals from a year ago, demand for U.S. pork remains very robust in our top market,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “July also saw great results in Central and South America, while volumes to the key Asian markets were largely steady with last year and pork variety meat volumes achieved broad-based growth.”
Overall, July emphasized the importance of maintaining strong trade relations and market access, with pork demonstrating its growth potential in key regions.
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