Pork exports break volume record in 2016

Feb. 8, 2017 (www.nationalhog- farmer.com) — U.S. pork and beef exports wrapped up an excellent 2016 performance with strong December results, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Pork export volume reached a record 2.31 million metric tons in 2016, up 8% year-over-year and 2% above the previ- ous high in 2012. Export value increased 7% from a year ago to $5.94 billion. December pork exports totaled 222,635 mt, up 18% year-over-year, val- ued at $564.2 million, up 20%.

Exports accounted for 25.8% of total 2016 pork production and 21.5% for muscle cuts — up from 24.2% and 20.8%, respectively, in 2015. December ratios were 28% for total production and 23% for muscle cuts only — up sig- nificantly from December 2015. Export value per head slaughtered averaged $50.20 in 2016, up 4% from the previous year. The December average was $56.06, up 24%.

PORK TO MEXICO SETS FIFTH STRAIGHT VOL- UME RECORD; CHINA/HONG KONG ALSO RECORD-LARGE

A remarkable second half pushed 2016 pork export volume to Mexico to its fifth consecutive record at 730,316 mt

— breaking the previous record by 2%. Export value to Mexico totaled $1.36 bil- lion, up 7% year-over-year and the sec- ond-highest on record, trailing only the $1.56 billion mark reached in 2014.

“At this time of record-large pork production, it would be hard to over- state the importance of Mexican demand to the U.S. industry,” says Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “This is especially true for hams, as we are locked out of Russia — once a large destination for U.S. hams — and China’s demand for imported hams has moderated in recent months. So now more than ever, we need strong demand from our key customers in Mexico, and they have responded with extraordi- nary results. December exports to Mexico accounted for nearly $16 per head, and that’s absolutely critical to the entire U.S. pork supply chain.”

Though down from the high levels seen earlier in the year, December pork exports to China/Hong Kong were still up 40% year-over-year in volume (47,242 mt) and 42% higher in value ($96 mil- lion). For the full year, exports to China/Hong set a new volume record of 544,943 mt (up 61%) and broke the $1 bil- lion mark for the first time ($1.07 bil- lion, up 53%).

OTHER 2016 HIGHLIGHTS FOR U.S. PORK EXPORTS INCLUDE:

G Japan remained the leading value destination for U.S. pork, though exports fell 5% in volume (387,712 mt) and 2% in value ($1.56 billion) com- pared to 2015. However, chilled exports

to Japan set a new record of 218,211 mt, up 8%.

G Led by a record performance in Central America and a fourth-quarter surge in Colombia and Chile, exports to the Central/South America region increased 11% in volume (135,954 mt) and 9% in value ($334.5 million).

G Pork shipments increased to both Australia and New Zealand, as export volume to Oceania reached 69,963 mt (up 10%) valued at $197.3 million (up 3%).

G Exports to the Dominican Republic set another record in 2016, top- ping the previous year’s totals by 10% in volume (25,591 mt) and 6% in value ($56.4 million).

G Fueled by increases in China/Hong Kong and Canada and steady exports to Mexico, pork variety meat exports jumped 20% in volume to 523,199 mt and 24% in value to $999 mil- lion — just short of the record levels reached in 2014.

BEEF EXPORTS ALSO INCREASE

Beef exports increased 11% in vol- ume (1.19 million mt) and 1% in value

($6.34 billion) from 2015. December exports totaled 116,847 mt, up 24% year- over-year. This was the largest monthly volume since July 2013 and the largest ever for December. Export value was $619.1 million in December, up 22%.

Exports accounted for 13.7% of total beef production in 2016 and 10.5% for muscle cuts — up from 13.1% and 10%, respectively, in 2015. December exports accounted for 15.6% of total December beef production and 12.1% for muscle cuts only — each up more than 2 per- centage points from a year ago and the highest since 2011. Export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $262.17, down 6% from 2015, but the December average was $301.97 — up 14% and the highest in nearly two years.

ASIAN MARKETS DRIVE STRONG BEEF EXPORT GROWTH

Driven by strong demand for higher- value chilled cuts, beef exports achieved new value records in South Korea and Taiwan in 2016, and rebound- ed strongly in Japan.

In Korea, December beef exports soared by 81% in volume (20,333 mt) and 88% in value ($130 million) from a year ago, capping a remarkable year in which exports totaled 179,280 mt (up 42%) valued at $1.06 billion — up 31% from a year ago and breaking the previ- ous value record by more than 20%. Korea’s per capita beef consumption set a new record in 2016 of 34 pounds (car- cass weight) — so the United States not only gained market share, but also capi- talized on the market’s overall growth.

Beef exports to Taiwan were also strong in December, with export value ($43.3 million) hitting its highest level ever. Full-year exports to Taiwan were up 25% in volume to 44,053 mt and 14% in value to $362.8 million.

Last year’s exports to Japan were the largest of the post-bovine spongiform encephalopathy era at 258,653 mt, up 26% year-over-year. Export value totaled $1.51 billion, up 18%. Chilled beef exports to Japan totaled 112,334 mt, up 44% from 2015.

“In addition to the strength of the U.S. dollar, U.S. beef overcame other severe challenges in these north Asian markets and achieved remarkable results,” Seng says. “Despite facing higher tariff rates in Japan compared to Australian beef, U.S. beef displaced its competition and won back signifi- cant market share. And the investment the U.S. industry made to rebuild con- sumer confidence in Korea is paying tremendous dividends, especially in the retail sector. We’re seeing U.S. beef fea- tured regularly by retailers who were once reluctant to carry the product.”