U.S. Pork Exports Fall As Trade Tensions Rise

(DENVER, CO) U.S. pork exports trended lower year-over-year according to statistics released by USDA. November pork exports totaled 207,000 metric tons (mt), down eight percent from 2017, while value fell 12 percent as retaliatory duties in key markets continue to generate headwinds for U.S. pork. For January through November, exports were steady with 2017’s record pace at 2.23 million mt and the value was down one percent to $5.86 billion. Trade barriers are also pressuring pork export value on a per-head basis. In November, export value per head slaughtered was $48.80, down 16 percent from November 2017. Through the first 11 months of 2018, the per-head export value averaged $51.46, down three percent. Exports accounted for 24.5 percent of total November pork production and 22 percent for muscle cuts. For January through November, exports equated to 25.7 percent of total pork production and 22.4 percent for muscle cuts.