U.S. Pork Exports to China Increase Nearly Fivefold

WASHINGTON, DC – Significantly larger pork sales to China boosted U.S. pork exports during first-quarter 2020 to a record-high volume of over 2 billion pounds. Sales to China (including Hong Kong) were a record 597 million pounds, up nearly fivefold, and more than 50 percent above earlier quarterly highs in 2008 and 2011. China/Hong Kong sales outpaced growth in pork exports to other top markets, which include Mexico, Japan, and Canada. China/Hong Kong was the top export market, accounting for almost 30 percent of first-quarter U.S. pork exports, a boom driven by a shortfall in China’s pork output following an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak. The epidemic decimated China’s swine herds with herd losses of 40 percent or more during 2018-19. Robust sales to China are expected to continue according to a report from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). Exemptions to punitive tariffs imposed on U.S. pork were granted beginning in March 2020, giving a further boost to Chinese purchases.
(SOURCE: Economic Research Service)