Pork exports hold firm in August despite tariffs - USMEF

USDA has released August red meat export data, which was delayed due to the lengthy government shutdown. As compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), August data showed a relatively strong performance for US pork exports. 

August pork exports totalled 236,311 metric tons (mt), down 1% from a year ago, valued at $685.9 million (down 2%). August exports were bolstered by another remarkable performance by leading market Mexico, where shipments climbed 8% from a year ago to 102,790 mt, the fifth largest volume on record. Export value reached $252.3 million, up 9% and the second highest on record, trailing only December 2024.

For January through August, pork exports were 3% below last year’s record pace in both volume (1.93 million mt) and value ($5.48 billion). This gap is mostly attributable to lower exports to China, where US pork faces retaliatory tariffs. This situation was especially disruptive in the spring months, when tariffs imposed by the US and China temporarily escalated and there was growing uncertainty about the continued eligibility of US plants. While this situation has since stabilised, China’s total tariff on US pork and most pork variety meat had been 57% until Nov. 10, when it was reduced to 47%.