U.S. Pork Exports to Central America Hit Record Highs

Mar 03, 2025
By Farms.com

U.S. Pork Exports Surge 21% in Central America

In 2024, U.S. pork exports to Central America set new records in both volume and value, surpassing previous highs.

According to Lucia Ruano, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) representative for the region, consumer education initiatives supported by the USDA and the National Pork Board have been instrumental in promoting U.S. pork as a premium protein choice.

Despite this success, exports to Panama faced challenges due to an import cap that conflicts with the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement.

Ruano noted that this restriction has caused frustration among importers and has even led to shortages of certain products, such as pork ribs popular in restaurant chains.

Elsewhere in Central America, U.S. pork enjoys full, duty-free access under the Central America-Dominican Republic-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).

This has helped drive growth, with exports rising 21% year-over-year to 166,000 metric tons. The export value also surged 29%, reaching $523 million. These figures highlight the increasing demand for U.S. pork across the region, reinforcing its strong market position.

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.