U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom shares highlights from the latest USDA export data, which show that U.S. pork exports recorded their highest-ever monthly value in November at $615.6 million. For January through November, pork export value increased 10 percent year-over-year to $5.9 billion. Pork variety meat exports were an important component of this growth, increasing 17 percent in value from a year ago and topping $1 billion for the first time on record.
Halstrom adds that November was another strong month for U.S. beef exports to key Asian markets. He highlights the factors driving export growth to leading market Japan, and says the early feedback on U.S. beef in China is very favorable. China reopened to U.S. beef in June, after an absence of more than 13 years following the December 2003 BSE case. With a strong December, U.S. beef exports will likely set a new value record in 2017, topping the previous high of $7.13 billion in 2014.