MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

United States recovers position as world’s leading exporter of beef

Beef exports to Latam were 51% higher in volume and 71% higher in dollars

The United States has recaptured its position as the world’s leading exporter of beef, outpacing Brazil and Australia, according to the latest statistics released by the US Department of Agriculture. Mexico a traditional market and Latin American countries proved to be among the most dynamic.

USDA and the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said that US June beef exports achieved the second-highest value ever at 461.8 million dollars, 23% higher than June 2010, only surpassed once: March 2011 with a value total of 475.2 million dollars.

In terms of volume, June beef exports reached 111.362 metric tons — an increase of 15% over June 2010. This brought the cumulative 2011 total to 620.851 metric tons valued at 2.55 billion dollars which was 25% higher in volume and 40% higher in value than last year’s pace.

For the first half of this year, US beef exports equated 13.8% of total production with an export value of 192.42 per head of fed slaughter.

Similarly June pork exports were slightly higher in volume (165.786 metric tons) than last year and 6% higher in value (451.2 million dollars). This pushed first-half pork exports to 1.08 million metric tons valued at 2.81 billion — year-over-year increases of 14% and 19%, respectively.

When compared to the all-time record year of 2008, the pace of 2011 US pork exports is 6% higher in volume and 21% higher in value. For the first half of this year, pork exports accounted for more than 27% of total production with export value equal to 52.76 dollars per head.

USDA and USMEF data also shows tremendous June results in Mexico and Canada firmly established their positions as the No. 1 and No. 2 markets for US beef.

Demand for US beef in Mexico continues to rebound, as exports through June were 8% higher in volume (126.309 metric tons) and 25% higher in value (474.3 million) than in 2010.

Canada was the value pacesetter in June with exports topping 96.6 million — a new monthly record. Cumulatively through June, exports to Canada were 23% higher than last year in terms of volume (87,334 metric tons) and 44% higher in value (463.9 million dollars).

June exports to Japan reached their highest monthly volume (17.626 metric tons) since 2003, pushing the 2011 total 50% higher in volume (77.298 metric tons) and 54% higher in value (416.3 million dollars).

Other key Asian markets for US beef have cooled somewhat from the red-hot pace set earlier this year, but the results remain very encouraging. Through June, exports to South Korea were 73% higher in volume (86.890 metric tons) than last year and 69% higher in value (380.8 million dollars). Hong Kong was up 82% in volume (26.521 metric tons) and 109% in value (117.3 million dollars).

Another sparkling growth region for US beef is Central and South America, where USMEF recently conducted a product showcase for US red meat, bringing US exporters to Panama City to meet with buyers from 11 different Latin American countries.

Through June, US beef exports to the region were 51% higher in volume (12.795 metric tons) than last year and 71% higher in value (35.2 million), led by strong growth in Chile, Peru, Colombia and Guatemala.

“The response we saw at the product showcase in Panama was very encouraging,” said Dan Halstrom, USMEF senior vice-president for global marketing. “What we saw there was a large contingent of buyers who weren’t just window-shopping. They came to buy, and we expect this event will lead to new business relationships and new sales of US red meat”.