BEEF AT HOME AND ABROAD
RED MEAT EXPORTS REMAIN ON RECORD PACE THROUGH THIRD QUARTER from the U.S. Meat Export Federation
Both U.S. beef and U.S. pork exports are on a record pace through September, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports posted one of the best months on record in September, with value climbing nearly 60 percent above last year. Pork export volume was slightly below last September, but value still increased 8 percent. Beef exports continued to soar in September at 123,628 metric tons (mt), up 20 percent from a year ago and the fourth largest volume of the post-BSE era. Export value jumped 59 percent to $954.1 million – the second highest month on record, trailing only August 2021. For the first three quarters of 2021, beef exports increased 18 percent from a year ago to 1.08 million mt, valued at $7.58 billion – up more than $2 billion (36 percent) from the same period last year. Compared to the record year of 2018, January-September exports were 7 percent higher in volume and up 24 percent in value.
22 California Cattleman December 2021
Pork exports totaled 219,687 mt in September, down 1 percent from a year ago, but value was 8 percent higher at $608.3 million. For January through September, exports were 1 percent above last year’s record pace at 2.24 million mt, while value climbed 9 percent to $6.23 billion. “Facing significant logistical headwinds and higher costs, these outstanding results are really a testament to the loyalty and strong demand from our international customers and to the innovation and determination of the U.S. industry,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. Variety meat exports a bright spot in 2021 Halstrom explained that a rebound in pork and beef variety meat exports, which took a step back last year amid COVID-related production obstacles, has been a strong source of momentum in 2021, reflecting exceptional global demand for high-value protein. “The increase in the variety meat capture rate, and the resulting increase in exports, is especially encouraging because the labor and transportation challenges certainly have not gone away,” Halstrom explained. “But these items are commanding a strong premium overseas, making it more feasible to get them into international commerce. Variety meat exports are a great complement to our strong domestic and international demand for muscle cuts, helping maximize carcass value.” China’s demand for U.S. pork variety meat has remained strong even as muscle cut exports to China have eased, helping push total January-September pork variety meat exports 17 percent above last year to 405,744 mt, valued at $949.1 million (up 26 percent). Beef variety meat exports, led by strong increases in Japan, Mexico, Central and South America and
