April Beef Export Values Well Above 2009 Levels

US - US pork exports had an impressive month in April, and the news was even better for US beef. US pork/pork variety meat export value increased by about seven per cent over April 2009 and reached its highest level since November 2008. Beef/beef variety meat export value topped its year-ago level by 27 per cent and was about 10 per cent higher than in April 2003, the last year of “pre-BSE” market access.

14 June 2010

4 minute read

North America

According to statistics released by the USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), April pork/pork variety meat exports totaled 156,211 metric tons (344.4 million pounds) valued at $400.95 million, bringing the cumulative January-April total to 625,004 metric tons (1.38 billion pounds) valued at $1.51 billion. April beef plus beef variety meat exports totaled 82,827 metric tons (182.6 million pounds) valued at $311.3 million, bringing the cumulative 2010 total to 307,949 metric tons (678.9 million pounds) valued at $1.1 billion.

April results were even more impressive when focused solely on muscle cuts. Pork muscle cut value ($345 million) was 11 per cent above April 2009, while beef muscle cut value ($268 million) was up 37 per cent from a year ago.

Beef exports up sharply in most key markets

While economic conditions remain difficult for US beef in Mexico, exports are thriving in all other key global markets. For the year, Mexico remains the No. 1 market in terms of both volume (77,027 metric tons or 169.8 million pounds and value ($246.9 million) but these totals are down by 25 per cent and 27 per cent respectively compared to the first four months of 2009.

Despite dramatic gains in many overseas markets, Canada remains the No. 2 destination for US beef. Beef/beef variety meat exports to Canada are up 13 per cent in volume (45,563 metric tons or 100.5 million pounds) and 17 per cent in value ($199.4 million) compared to January-April 2009. In fact, April export value to Canada ($59.9 million) pulled within just four per cent of Mexico ($62.2 million).

US beef exports to Asia continued to grow at a torrid pace in April. Japan is the leading Asian market in 2010 in terms of both volume (26,740 metric tons or 58.9 million pounds) and value ($141.8 million). Each of these totals represents an increase of 34 per cent over January-April 2009. But South Korea is right on Japan’s heels, with a volume of 26,321 metric tons (58 million pounds) valued at $112.3 million – increases of 39 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively, over last year.

The ASEAN region also performed very well in April, pushing its totals for the year up by 14 per cent in volume (29,589 metric tons or 65.2 million pounds) and 16 per cent in value ($97.9 million). Interestingly, this increase was achieved despite fairly flat results in Vietnam – by far the largest ASEAN market. The primary growth drivers were the Philippines and Indonesia, the No. 2 and No. 3 markets in the region.

Taiwan appears to have shaken off any lingering controversy over the recent reintroduction of US bone-in beef, and may be headed for another record performance in 2010. Exports to Taiwan were up 69 per cent in volume (11,533 metric tons or 25.4 million pounds) and 79 per cent in value ($60 million).

Hong Kong has also achieved rapid growth this year, nearly tripling its imports of US beef in terms of both volume (9,099 metric tons or 20.1 million pounds) and value ($35.6 million).

“The growth our beef industry is achieving in Asia right now is extremely encouraging,” said USMEF Chair Jim Peterson, a rancher from Buffalo, Mont. “Despite the market access limitations we still face in several of these markets, their appetite for US beef is clearly on the rise. As a cattleman, it’s really gratifying to see our exports to Asia gaining so much momentum.”

Impressive growth numbers are not limited to Asia, however. Exports to the Middle East continued their strong run, increasing 24 per cent in volume and 45 per cent in value over January-April 2009. Led by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, a growing percentage of US beef exports to the Middle East are muscle cuts. But beef variety meat exports are showing signs of a strong price recovery in the region, as they were up only slightly in volume but up by nearly 25 per cent in value through April.

Russia has also expanded its purchases of US beef to include a much higher percentage of muscle cuts, and this was illustrated clearly in the January-April results. Exports to Russia were up 173 per cent in volume (19,525 metric tons or 43 million pounds) but an even more remarkable 613 per cent in value ($47.5 million) over 2009.

In contrast to the downturn in Mexico, exports are performing very well in other Western Hemisphere markets. Beef/beef variety meat exports to the Dominican Republic were up more than 60 per cent in volume and value, while Jamaica was up more than 30 per cent. Exports to Central/South America were up by 47 per cent in volume and 54 per cent in value, with variety meat exports to Peru and Colombia accounting for much of the growth.