January exports show solid start to 2018 for US beef, pork

January exports of U.S. beef were significantly higher than the large totals of a year ago while pork exports were steady in volume and increased in value, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Beef exports totaled 105,486 metric tons in January, up 9 percent year-over-year, while export value surged 21 percent to $624.4 million. Exports accounted for 12.4 percent of total beef production in January, up slightly from a year ago. For muscle cuts only, the percentage exported increased from 9.5 percent to 10.1 percent. Beef export value averaged $293.06 per head of fed slaughter, up 14 percent year-over-year.

January pork exports totaled 203,488 metric tons, steady with last year’s strong volume, while export value increased 7 percent to $545.6 million. Pork exports accounted for 24.7 percent of total pork production, down from 26.2 percent a year ago. For muscle cuts only, the percentage exported declined slightly to 21.5 percent. Pork export value averaged $50.93 per head slaughtered, up 1 percent year-over-year.

For muscle cuts only, beef exports reached 80,495 metric tons (up 15 percent) valued at $555.7 million (up 23 percent). Pork export volume increased 5 percent to 164,189 metric tons, while value climbed 9 percent to $454.2 million. Beef variety meat volume fell 5 percent to just under 25,000 metric tons, but value increased 7 percent to $68.8 million. Pork variety meat exports dropped 16 percent in volume (39,299 metric tons) but still managed a 2 percent increase in value to $91.5 million.

“January export results were solid overall and were especially strong for muscle cuts,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Despite the decline in variety meat volume, export value continued to increase. This underscores the important contribution variety meats deliver for producers and for everyone in the U.S. supply chain.”

Asian markets continue to shine for U.S. beef

U.S. beef continued to gain momentum in the Japanese market, with January exports increasing 7 percent from a year ago in volume (23,968 metric tons) and 19 percent in value ($148.6 million). This included a 30 percent increase in chilled beef exports to 12,411 metric tons, valued at $92.4 million (up 38 percent). Frozen exports declined 13 percent in volume (8,141 metric tons) but increased slightly in value ($33.1 million). Frozen U.S. beef entering Japan is subject to a 50 percent safeguard tariff, which is scheduled to revert back to 38.5 percent on April 1, the beginning of the new Japanese fiscal year. Benefiting from a bilateral trade agreement with Japan, frozen beef from Australia is subject to a duty of 27.2 percent. This rate will decline to 26.9 percent on April 1.

Other January highlights for U.S. beef included:

Exports to South Korea, which reached a record $1.2 billion in 2017, increased 13 percent from a year ago to 17,133 metric tons, while export value soared 34 percent to $122.3 million. This included a 54 percent increase in chilled beef exports to 3,954 metric tons, valued at $36.9 million, up 63 percent. Through the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), the duty on U.S. beef was reduced to 21.3 percent on Jan. 1, about 5 percentage points lower than Australia’s rate for this year and down significantly from the pre-KORUS rate of 40 percent.

Following large shipments in the fourth quarter of 2017, exports to Hong Kong slowed in January, but still easily exceeded last year’s totals, increasing 41 percent from a year ago in volume (10,493 metric tons) and 53 percent in value ($79.8 million). Exports to China, which resumed in June after a 13-year absence, hit a new monthly high of 819 metric tons in January valued at $7.5 million.

Exports to Taiwan posted impressive gains in January, increasing 17 percent in volume to 4,207 metric tons. Export value increased 41 percent to $42 million.

Led by solid gains in Indonesia and Vietnam, exports to the ASEAN region climbed 22 percent in volume (3,108 metric tons) and 13 percent in value ($15.9 million).

Strong results in Chile and Colombia fueled beef exports to South America, which increased 90 percent in volume (3,307 metric tons) and 65 percent in value ($13.9 million).

Exports to Central America jumped 40 percent in volume (1,082 metric tons) and 32 percent in value ($5.9 million), led by a strong performance in Guatemala and larger variety meat shipments to El Salvador.

Beef exports to Africa were mostly variety meat in 2017, but January produced a large increase in muscle cut exports to Angola and South Africa. As a result, total exports to Africa were up 19 percent in volume (954 metric tons) and surged 88 percent in value to $1.4 million.

Pork steady to Mexico; strong increases for Japan, Korea, Central America

Building on a record 2017 performance, January pork exports to Mexico increased 1 percent from a year ago in volume (72,997 metric tons) and 4 percent in value ($133.5 million). Mexico continues to be a mainstay market for U.S. hams and is the second-largest destination (behind China/Hong Kong) for pork variety meat.

Other January highlights for U.S. pork included:

Exports to leading value market Japan totaled 35,048 metric tons (up 11 percent) valued at $146.4 million (up 17 percent). Chilled exports were up 15 percent in volume (20,212 metric tons) and 21 percent in value ($96.8 million).

Exports to Korea, which posted impressive gains in 2017, continued to gain momentum in January as volume increased 17 percent to 18,879 metric tons and value climbed 20 percent to $54.2 million.

Led by solid gains in mainstay markets Honduras and Guatemala and exceptional growth in El Salvador, pork exports to Central America increased 18 percent in volume (6,179 metric tons) and 20 percent in value ($14.5 million).

Year-over-year increases in both Australia and New Zealand pushed export volume to the Oceania region up 10 percent to 7,613 metric tons, while export value increased 15 percent to $22.2 million. Pork exports to Oceania are primarily composed of raw material for further processing, with Australia being one of the leading destinations for U.S. hams.

Led by strong growth to Vietnam, January export volume to the ASEAN region climbed 16 percent to 3,053 metric tons and value was up 17 percent to $7.9 million. The strong performance in Vietnam helped offset lower exports to the Philippines, the region’s largest destination for U.S. pork.

Reflecting larger domestic production in China and correspondingly lower hog and pork prices, exports to China/Hong Kong fell 16 percent to 31,997 metric tons, but still achieved a 2 percent increase in value to $77.9 million. For muscle cuts only, exports to China/Hong Kong increased 10 percent in volume (12,827 metric tons) and 14 percent in value ($25.6 million) from a year ago, but slowed from the fourth quarter pace when shipments gained momentum ahead of Chinese New Year. Following two big years, January pork variety meat exports to the region were the lowest since 2015.

Lamb exports get long-awaited boost from variety meats

Exports of U.S. lamb muscle cuts posted a solid performance in 2017, but overall results were held back by a decline in variety meat demand. That trend reversed in January, as variety meat exports were up 62 percent in volume to 614 metric tons and jumped 73 percent in value to $687,000. This helped push overall results for U.S. lamb to 740 metric tons (up 29 percent) valued at $1.5 million (up 6 percent). Variety meat export growth was led by Mexico, Angola and Gabon, while lamb muscle cut exports increased to the Caribbean and Canada.

Complete January export results for U.S. beef, pork and lamb are available from USMEF’s statistics web page.

Monthly charts for U.S. pork and beef exports are also available online.

If you have questions, please contact Joe Schuele at [email protected] or call 303-226-7309.

Notes:

Export statistics refer to both muscle cuts and variety meat, unless otherwise noted.

One metric ton=2,204.622 pounds.