NEWBURG, Md. — U.S. beef and pork exports posted double-digit value records in 2014 over 2013 totals, according to statistics released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
"Providing quality corn-fed meat to consumers around the world, many of whom are looking for new and healthy sources of protein, helps support corn growers here at home – especially when you consider how livestock feed is our largest corn use," said Chip Bowling, president of the National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) and a Newburg, Md., corn farmer.
"We value our ties to livestock and would like to work closely with them as partners in building demand for beef and pork products worldwide."
Released Feb. 10, the USMEF’s report stated U.S. beef export value was $7.13 billion – an increase of 16 percent (and nearly $1 billion) over the previous record set in 2013, with export volume just under 1.2 million metric tons (mmts) – which was short of the 2011 record, but up 2 percent year-over-year.
According to the Denver, Colo.-based USMEF, pork export value totaled $6.67 billion, an increase of 10 percent year-over-year, breaking the 2012 record by 6 percent, with pork export volume increasing 2 percent to 2.18 mmts. Currently, the volume record is 2.62 mmts, set in 2012.
Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO, said the strength in international demand for U.S. red meat was showcased in 2014, as customers paid record prices for both beef and pork, while still purchasing larger volumes.
For example, U.S. pork prices were higher than European Union prices for most of the year, and U.S. cattle prices were significantly higher than prices in Australia and all other major beef-exporting countries.
The report stated exports continue to generate strong returns for producers, as beef export value per head of fed slaughter averaged a record $300.36 in 2014, up $55.40 from the previous year. December export value was $340.69 per head, up $61.53 from a year ago.
The report also said pork export value per head slaughtered set a record of $62.45 in 2014 (up $8.50 from a year earlier), despite slipping slightly in December ($54.94, down 33 cents).
"These exceptional results illustrate the strength of the international markets," Seng said. "In the past five years, per-head export value has more than doubled for beef producers and has increased more than 60 percent for pork."
Moreover, beef exports in 2014 equated to 14 percent of total production (i.e., muscle cuts plus variety meat) and 11 percent of muscle cuts alone, up from 13 and 10 percent, respectively, a year earlier. Pork exports equated to 26.5 percent of total pork production and 22 percent of muscle cuts alone, up slightly from 2013.
The report said U.S. beef performed exceptionally well in key Asian markets in 2014, including:
•Exports to Japan increased 3 percent in volume (241,129 metric tons) and 14 percent in value ($1.58 billion). Value eclipsed the 2003 (pre-BSE) mark ($1.39 billion) for the first time, though volume was still below the 2003 total.
•Hong Kong set new annual records as export volume increased 19 percent to 154,520 metric tons and value surged 40 percent to $1.15 billion.
•Exports to South Korea set a new annual value record of $847.4 million, up 39 percent. Volume increased 12 percent to 117,567 metric tons.
•Taiwan also set a new annual value record of $293.6 million (up 15 percent), while volume increased 5 percent to 33,804 metric tons.
Other report highlights included: exports to South Korea soared 36 percent in volume to 135,396 metric tons and 61 percent in value, to $444.6 million; and in Colombia, exports have more than doubled since 2012 and set new volume and value records in five consecutive years – in 2014, exports increased 39 percent in volume to 47,441 metric tons and 52 percent in value, to $134.11 million.
Although pork exports to Canada were lower in volume (207,362 metric tons, down 9 percent), export value set a new record of $904.7 million (up 7 percent).
Seng said exports overcame significant challenges to reach these milestones, including market access restrictions in Russia and China, an appreciating U.S. dollar and, most recently, shipping difficulties related to a labor dispute at West Coast ports.
In December, the report said, beef export volume slipped 2 percent year-over-year to 100,270 metric tons, though value still increased 17 percent to $643.2 million. December pork export volume was down 5 percent to 183,498 metric tons, but value still achieved a slight increase to $541.3 million.
"(Last year) was an outstanding year for red meat exports, but headwinds continued to mount late in the year," Seng said. "The West Coast port congestion is extremely troubling, because the delays faced by exporters in December have become even more severe in 2015.
"If this dispute is not resolved soon. the meat industry will have to win back long-term customers who still want our product but have no choice but to seek alternative suppliers."
