U.S. pork exports during November were up 19.7 percent from the month before and up 6.7 percent compared to November 2009. The big growth markets were China, Mexico and Japan, each buying at least 10 million pounds more U.S. pork than 12 months earlier. Pork exports equaled 19.6 percent of November production. Pork imports were up 0.4 percent in November.

Thru November, U.S. pork exports were up by 91.7 million pounds (2.5 percent) and imports were up by 34.4 million pounds (4.5 percent) compared to the first 11 months of 2009. China, Mexico, Australia and the Philippines each purchased more U.S. pork in January-November 2010 than for all of 2009.

January-November hog imports from Canada were down 10.5 percent compared to a year earlier with an 11.1 percent drop in feeder pig imports and a 7.8 percent drop in slaughter hogs coming south. When the December trade data become available, it appears that 2010 imports of hogs and pigs will total about 5.7 million head, the fewest since 2001.

Hog prices ended this week higher compared to the week before. The national weighted average carcass price for negotiated hogs Friday morning was $72.72 per cwt., up $1.58 from the previous week.

The average carcass price this morning in the eastern Corn Belt was $71.68 per cwt. The western Corn Belt and Iowa-Minnesota both averaged $74.32 per cwt. this morning. The top live hog price Friday at Sioux Falls, Iowa was $49.50 per cwt.

The top at Zumbrota, Minn. was $47 and Peoria’s top was $50 per cwt. The interior Missouri live top Friday was $49 per cwt., the same as the previous Friday.

USDA’s Thursday afternoon calculated pork cutout value was $83.79 per cwt., up $5.65 from the previous Thursday. Hams, loins, butts and bellies were all higher. The strength in pork cutout gives room for hog prices to move higher again next week.

The average carcass weight of barrows and gilts slaughtered the week ending Jan. 1 was 206 pounds, up 2 pounds from the previous week and 6 pounds heavier than a year ago. Iowa-Minnesota live weights for barrows and gilts last week averaged 275.8 pounds, up 1.1 pounds from the week before and up 6.8 pounds compared to a year earlier. Since early October, hog carcass weights have averaged 2.2 percent above the year-earlier weight.

Hog slaughter totaled 2.135 million head this week, down 2.5 percent from the week before and down 1.8 percent compared to the same week last year. This was only the second week since mid October with hog slaughter below the year-ago level

The February lean hog futures contract ended the week at $79.52 per cwt., up 10 cents from the previous Friday. The April contract ended the week at $85.27 per cwt. and June hogs settled at $92.97.

March corn futures ended the week at $6.48’6 per bushel, up 53 cents from the previous Friday. May corn futures ended the week at $6.58 and December settled at $5.71’2 per bushel. March soybean meal closed at $388.10 per ton.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Ron Plain may write to him in care of this publication.