Pork exports amounted to 224,392 tonnes in June, a decrease of 9% from the previous year
US beef exports reached their highest level in nearly two years in June, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF). (Getty Images, Unsplash+)
DENVER – U.S. beef exports reached their highest level in nearly two years in June, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). While pork exports declined year-on-year in June, shipments in the first half of the year remained above the 2023 record.
Japan, Taiwan and Canada lead the strongest beef exports in June
Beef exports totaled 110,155 tonnes (mt) in June, down 4% year-on-year but the second-highest of 2024. Export value reached US$938.3 million, up 3% year-on-year and the highest since August 2022. Exports to Japan trended upward, being the third-largest ever recorded after Taiwan, while shipments to Canada were the largest in nearly a decade. Exports to South Korea were down year-on-year in June but recovered from May. In the first half of the year, the value of beef exports rose 5% year-on-year to US$5.22 billion, despite a 4% decline in volume (643,733 mt).
“June beef exports were very strong in Japan, which was encouraging given the significant headwinds U.S. beef has faced this year,” said Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of USMEF. “Export value also recovered well in Korea, and shipments to Taiwan and Canada were excellent. This made for another strong month in terms of export value per animal slaughtered, which was nearly $460 in June.”
Pork exports down in June, but bright spots in Korea, Central America and the Caribbean
June pork exports totaled 224,392 tonnes, down 9% year-on-year and the lowest since September, while export value fell 5% to $659.7 million. June exports to leading market Mexico were slightly lower year-on-year but still increased in value, while shipments to Korea remained very robust. Other top performers for U.S. pork in June were Central America, the Caribbean and Canada. January-June pork exports reached 1.52 million tonnes, up 3% from the first half of 2023, while export value rose 5% to $4.26 billion.
“June was a quieter month for some of our key U.S. pork destinations, including Mexico and Colombia, where exports soared and purchases picked up again in July,” Halstrom said. “But June was another great month for U.S. pork to Korea, where exports could reach record highs this year. Shipments to Central America and Canada were also up year-over-year, and it was encouraging to see export value per animal slaughtered holding steady in the $66 range.”
Lamb export volume increases in June
US lamb exports totaled 191 tonnes in June, up 26% year-on-year, although value declined 16% to $827,000. Through the first half of 2024, lamb exports increased 12% in volume (1,485 tonnes) and 19% in value ($8 million), with shipments to the Caribbean, Mexico, ASEAN, Canada and Taiwan trending higher, while exports to Japan remained stable.
A detailed summary of U.S. beef, pork and lamb export results from January through June, including market-specific highlights, is available on the USMEF website.
— US Meat Export Association
