Strong demand from Japan and Colombia offsets losses in Mexico market
U.S. pork exports showed strong growth in May 2026 despite ongoing trade challenges in Mexico. New export data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and released through USDA reports highlighted steady international demand for American pork products.
Pork exports reached 245,874 metric tons in May, marking a 10% increase compared to the same month last year. Export value also improved, rising 8% to $701 million. Strong demand from markets such as Japan, Colombia, and Central America helped drive this growth.
“While U.S. pork exports are posting a strong performance in 2026, the May results underscore the urgent need for Mexico to fully remove its PRV-related restrictions on pork offal and other products,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “This situation is costing the U.S. industry millions of dollars per week and severely impacting customers in Mexico, who are scrambling to find alternative products and suppliers.”
These restrictions were introduced after the detection of pseudorabies virus antibodies in a small number of boars in Iowa. As a result, pork variety meat shipments to Mexico dropped sharply, falling 80% from a year earlier.
Although pork's variety of meat exports exceeded 40,000 metric tons in May, they remained below the average levels recorded during the first four months of the year. Exporters continued to face difficulties due to verification requirements and limitations affecting shipments from major pork-producing regions.
Despite these obstacles, the overall export outlook remained positive. The largest pork shipments to Japan since 2021 were recorded in May, while Colombia delivered an impressive performance and Central America continued to increase purchases.
For the first five months of 2026, total pork and pork variety of meat exports reached 1.28 million metric tons. Export value climbed to $3.59 billion; both figures represent a 5% increase from the previous year. Export volumes and values remained very close to the record pace established in 2024.
Overall, strong international demand helped the U.S. pork sector maintain momentum in 2026, demonstrating the industry's resilience despite ongoing trade and regulatory challenges.
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