WASHINGTON – US beef exports continued at a record pace exceeding $10 billion for the year, according to new October data compiled by the US Meat Export Federation from the US Department of Agriculture.

Total beef exports for October came in at 125,466 tonnes, up 8% compared to 2021, with export value at $929.8 million, down 3%. 

For the first 10 months of 2022, the volume of beef exports from the United States were still 4% above last year at 1.25 million tonnes. Export value reached $10.05 billion, up 18% and already achieving the second-highest total for any calendar year. This is the second time in a single year that value reached $10 billion. 

“The October results were remarkable considering the headwinds facing US beef, especially in our large Asian markets,” said Dan Halstrom, president and chief executive officer of USMEF. “Key currencies such as the Japanese yen and Korean won had sunk to their lowest levels in decades versus the US dollar, which obviously affected importers’ buying power. COVID lockdowns in China were also a concerning factor, especially for buyers in the foodservice sector. But despite all that, US beef still performed very well in Asia and achieved solid growth in North America and the Middle East. With some recent improvement in exchange rates, beef exports are well-positioned to surpass last year’s records.”

Demand for US beef in China remained high despite the continued zero-COVID policies in the country. October beef exports to China/Hong Kong were still above last year at 26,170 tonnes, up 21% from 2021, while value climbed 19% to $240.8 million.

Pork exports in October showed volume increasing 5% from a year ago to 238,198 tonnes as export value reached $697.3 million, up 13% compared to the same month in 2021. 

Through 10 months, pork export volume fell 12% below the 2021 pace at 2.18 million tonnes. Export value stood at $6.26 billion, down 8% from a year ago.

“The recent rebound in pork variety meat exports is tremendous news for the US industry on a few different fronts,” Halstrom said. “While exports to China have regained momentum, our ongoing efforts to diversify destinations for pork variety meats are definitely paying dividends. Larger shipments also reflect an improved labor situation at the plant level, which has helped increase the capture rate for variety meat items.”

For October, pork exports to Mexico remained solid at 84,915 tonnes, up 1% from 2021. Exports were valued at $203.1 million, up by 41%.

Beef exports to Japan in October were at 23,600 tonnes, slightly up from a year ago. However, the value decreased by 18% to $163.4 million.  

Lamb exports for January-September increased 67% to 1,878 tonnes, which put the value up 60% to $11.11 million.