071256 Frozen Beef Exports Decrease, Pork Cuts Increase

Recently, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) published October 2007 U.S. red meat export and import numbers. According to the data, U.S. exports of beef and veal cuts and beef variety meats during October totaled 76,758 MT. This was 14.6 percent higher than the previous month and was 31.7 percent higher than October 2006.

Specifically, exports of fresh, chilled product equaled 30,941 MT, 15.0 percent more than the previous month and 25.7 percent more than October 2006. Frozen beef exports equaled 10,744 MT. This was 9.0 percent lower than the previous month but was 87.7 percent higher than October 2006. U.S. beef variety meat exports during October climbed 23.8 percent over September and 25.5 percent over October 2006. Total year- to-date beef variety meat exports were 9.1 percent greater than a year ago, amounting to 253,889 MT. During October, beef exports to Mexico equaled 35,810 MT, 32.0 percent more than the previous month. Year-to-date exports to Mexico totaled 298,406 MT, which was down 2.1 percent from last year. Mexico was the largest buyer of U.S. beef with 46.7 percent of the total exports.

U.S. beef exports to Canada during October rose 11.2 percent over the previous month to 13,150 MT. Total year-to-date exports to Canada were 34.1 percent above a year ago, amounting to 106,349 MT. Total year-to-date beef exports to Japan reached 39,770 MT, 372.5 percent more than a year ago. Overall, U.S. total year-to-date beef and veal and beef variety meat exports were 19.2 percent above the corresponding period a year ago, amounting to 639,613 MT.

During October, U.S. exports of pork cuts and pork variety meats rose 28.7 percent over September and 29.0 percent over October 2006 to 123,944 MT. The increase was due mostly to lower U.S. pork prices and low foreign exchange values of the U.S. dollar. More specifically, fresh, chilled pork exports totaled 37,096 MT, which was up 17.5 percent over the previous month and was up 11.3 percent over October 2006. Frozen pork exports totaled 61,106 MT, which was 41.6 percent higher than the previous month and was 58.0 percent higher than October 2006. U.S. pork variety meat exports during October increased 23.9 percent over the previous month and 23.7 percent over October 2006 to 18,944 MT. Total year-to-date pork variety meat exports were 2.2 percent higher than a year ago, amounting to 145,863 MT. U.S. pork exports to Japan during October totaled 30,756 MT. This was 16.3 percent more than the previous month. Year-to-date pork exports to Japan totaled 294,480 MT, 8.2 percent above a year ago.

Japan was the largest U.S. pork export market with 30.0 percent of the total. During October, the U.S. exported 22,791 MT of pork to Mexico, which was 23.1 percent higher than the previous month. Year-to-date pork exports to Mexico were 4.4 percent less than last year, amounting to 201,069 MT. Total year-to-date U.S. pork exports to China reached 80,664 MT, 100.8 percent greater than a year ago. Overall, U.S. total year-to-date pork and pork variety meat exports equaled 980,394 MT, 1.2 percent above the same period a year ago.

Source: International Meat Review

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