Domestic Pork Exports Post Hefty Sales in August

DENVER, CO – U.S. pork exports continued to post very strong results in August, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Unfortunately, the news was not so good for beef exports, falling below the record-large totals of August 2018. August pork exports increased 22 percent from a year ago (221,586 metric tons), while export value climbed 19 percent ($588.8 million). These results pushed January-August export volume 4 percent ahead of last year’s pace at 1.7 million mt, while value increased slightly to $4.35 billion. Pork export value averaged $54.18 per head in August, a 22 percent year over year increase. For January through August, the per-head average was down 2 percent to $51.70. August exports accounted for 27 percent of total U.S. pork production and almost 24 percent for muscle cuts only, up significantly from a year ago. January-August exports also accounted for 26 percent of total pork production and 23 percent for muscle cuts, both up slightly year-over-year.