By Jamie Martin
In June, US beef exports demonstrated a significant increase, reaching the highest value since August 2022, as reported by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation.
Despite a slight reduction in pork exports compared to the previous year, the first half of the year maintained a record pace in value.
Beef exports amounted to 110,155 metric tons with a value of $938.3 million, marking a 3% increase from the previous year. This boost is attributed to strong performances in key markets such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Canada. Japan, in particular, saw an 8% increase in beef exports, benefiting from heightened tourism and reduced inventories.
Conversely, pork exports in June faced challenges, totaling 224,392 metric tons, down by 9% from the previous year, with a value decrease of 5%.
Despite this, the first six months showed a 3% volume increase, and a 5% value increase compared to 2023. Key markets like Korea and Central America showed positive trends, with Korea potentially setting a record high this year.
The data highlights the dynamic nature of the meat export sector, with beef showing resilience and pork experiencing fluctuations but maintaining a solid overall performance for the first half of the year.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sstajic
Categories: National