0
December pork exports climbed nearly 10% from a year ago to 268,399 metric tons (mt), the largest since May 2021 and the eighth largest on record. Export value increased 11% to $765.8 million, also the highest since May 2021 and the third highest on record. While December exports trended higher in many key markets, Mexico was once again the star performer, setting records for both volume (105,451 mt) and value ($233.8 million).
The strong December results pushed 2023 export value to a record $8.16 billion, up 6% from 2022. Export value per head slaughtered also set an annual record of nearly $64. Export volume was 2.91 million mt, up 8% year-over-year and the third largest on record.
Fueled by robust growth in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, December pork exports to Central America climbed 20% to a record 18,121 mt, valued at a record $53.3 million (up 19%). 2023 exports were the second largest on record at 137,469 mt, up 15% from 2022 and down just 1.5% from the 2021 record. Export value increased 20% year-over-year to $405.7 million, an annual record.
December pork exports to South Korea surged 64% from a year ago to 23,912 mt – the largest in more than four years. Export value climbed 69% to $81.9 million, the highest in more than five years and the third highest on record. These results pushed 2023 exports 9% above the previous year at 191,262 mt, the third largest on record. Export value increased 4% to $633.4 million, the second highest on record.
Led by excellent growth in Chile and Peru and a fourth quarter rebound in leading market Colombia, pork exports to South America increased 2% in volume (118,660 mt) and 10% in value ($340.6 million) over 2022. After a slow start to the year, shipments to Colombia regained momentum and reached 98,876 mt, down 3% year-over-year, while value increased 10% to a record $272 million. Exports to Chile climbed 39% to 15,733 mt, valued at $53.1 million (up 11%), while shipments to Peru increased 23% to 2,298 mt, valued at $6.5 million (up 17%).
Led by higher volumes to the Philippines and Vietnam and surging demand in Malaysia, pork exports to the ASEAN reached 64,158 mt in 2023, up 22% year-over-year. Export value declined slightly, falling 4% to $150 million. Exports to Malaysia, where ASF has weighed heavily on domestic production, soared by nearly 1,700% to 5,170 mt, valued at $16.3 million (up more than 1,500%). Malaysia’s imports of European pork were also record-large, topping 44,000 mt through November.
Though pork exports to Japan trended modestly lower in 2023, December shipments increased 9% year-over-year to 26,826 mt, valued at $111.5 million (up 11%). For the full year, exports declined 4% to 342,163 mt. While export value fell 5% to $1.4 billion, Japan is the second highest value destination for U.S. pork, trailing only Mexico.
February 8, 2024/ USMEF/ United States.
https://www.usmef.org
