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Pork exports totaled 243,965 mt in January, down 3% from a year ago, while value eased 2% to $668 million. Shipments soared to Central America and continued to trend higher to leading market Mexico. Exports also increased year-over-year to China/Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand, but these results were offset by sharply lower shipments to Japan, Korea, and Colombia.
Coming off a monster year in which shipments topped $2.5 billion in value for the first time, pork exports to Mexico continued to climb in January. Exports increased 2% from a year ago to 104,502 mt, the fourth highest on record, while value jumped 7% to $222 million.
Fueled by robust growth in top markets Honduras and Guatemala and sharply higher shipments to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, exports to Central America soared 22% from a year ago in volume (14,510 mt) and 30% in value ($46.5 million).
Although well below the volumes seen earlier this decade, pork exports to China/Hong Kong gained momentum in the second half of 2024 and continued to trend higher in January. Exports climbed 6% from a year ago to 37,596 mt, while value increased 9% to $92.3 million.
January pork exports to the Philippines remained higher year-over-year as shipments were up 3% to 3,145 mt and value increased impressively – climbing 31% to $6.9 million.
After a fairly steady year in 2024, pork exports to Japan slowed in January to 22,272 mt, down 21% from a year ago, while value also fell 21% to $90.8 million.
Pork exports to Korea saw significant growth in 2024, achieving an annual value record of $728 million. But exports slowed in the fourth quarter, and this trend continued in January as shipments fell 21% to 16,453 mt, valued at $52.7 million (down 22%).
Colombia’s soaring demand for U.S. pork also slowed in January, as exports declined 19% from a year ago to 8,491 mt, valued at $28.1 million (down 12%). Colombia posted a record performance in 2024, with pork export value jumping 32% to $360 million.
March 7, 2025/ USMEF/ United States.
https://www.usmef.org
