September beef exports increased 6 percent in volume to 100,068 metric tons (mt), and surged 25 percent in value to $631.9 million, USMEF reported. Exports from January through September climbed 3 percent in volume to 890,276 mt and 15 percent in value ($5.18 billion). Japan was the leading market for US beef exports, according to USMEF. Volume soared 36 percent to 23,195 mt, while value jumped 55 percent to $155.7 million. Beef exports to Japan remained steady for the first nine months, posting 184,293 mt in volume and $1.17 billion in value, USMEF said.
Pork exports in September declined 3 percent in volume to 162,125 mt, but the value of pork exports increased 7 percent. Through the first nine months of 2014, exports maintained a record pace in volume and value, posting 1.64 million mt with a value of $5.05 billion. This represents increases of 5 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
Pork exports to Mexico, the leading market in volume, continued on a record pace, USMEF noted. September exports increased 17 percent to 58,929 mt, while the value of pork exports to Mexico increased 35 percent to $138.4 million, according to USMEF.
“These are impressive results, especially given the headwinds we faced in September – including a very strong US dollar, a significant decline in beef production and our first full month of dealing with Russia’s retaliatory import ban,” said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “It was just three years ago that US pork and beef exports eclipsed the $5 billion mark for the first time in an entire calendar year, so it’s very gratifying to see our industry reach these mileposts by the end of the third quarter.”
US lamb exports made year-over-year gains for the third consecutive month. Lamb exports climbed 10 percent in volume (844 mt) and 14 percent in value ($2.16 million). However, lamb exports for the first nine months remained 17 percent lower in volume and down 2 percent in value, USMEF reported.
Mexico continued as the leading market for US lamb, while exports expanded to the Caribbean, Panama, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates, partially offsetting lower totals for Canada.
