DENVER — Bolstered by record performances in Mexico, Central America and Colombia, US pork exports reached the highest value in November since mid-2021, according to data released by the US Department of Agriculture and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF). On the flip side, November US beef exports recorded the third lowest value of 2023.    

“The momentum for US pork exports is remarkable and very broad-based,” said Dan Halstrom, president and chief executive officer of USMEF. “While Mexico accounts for much of the past year’s export growth, there are success stories throughout the Western Hemisphere and across the entire globe. And the coming year also looks very promising in both established and emerging markets.”

November pork exports totaled 258,601 tonnes, up 5% from a year ago and the highest in six months. Export value was up 2% to $737.4 million, the highest since May 2021 and the seventh highest on record.

Pork exports’ volume and value to Central America were record-large in November. Export value reached new heights in leading market Mexico with $221.3 million (a 5% jump year-over-year) and in Colombia with $34.3 million (a 59% jump year-over-year). USMEF noted that exports also increased significantly to South Korea and Oceania.

USMEF said annual records have already been achieved in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Malaysia and Indonesia, while exports to Central America keep a record pace.

US beef exports totaled 99,029 tonnes in November, down 14% from a year ago and the second lowest of the year, while value fell 7% to $786.2 million.

Beef exports increased year-over-year to Mexico, Central America, the Dominican Republic and Hong Kong. However, they trended significantly lower to South Korea, Japan and China. Exports to Taiwan were below the record levels of 2022 but did not decline as sharply as in the larger Asian markets.

“There are certainly bright spots for US beef, with exports rebounding in Mexico and demand in several Western Hemisphere markets the strongest we’ve seen in years,” Halstrom said. “But economic conditions in our largest Asian markets and the sharp rebound in Australian production and exports have been persistent obstacles over the past year, making it a sharp contrast with the tremendous 2022 performance for US beef exports. Despite these challenges, we still see sustained demand for chilled US beef, and the US remains the dominant supplier of chilled beef entering Korea, Japan and Taiwan.”

November exports of US lamb also trended lower. Lamb exports dropped 64% from last year to 115 tonnes, while value fell 50% to $817,000. Although exports trended higher to Costa Rica, Guatemala, the Netherlands Antilles and Barbados, the gains were offset by lower shipments to Mexico and Canada.