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Even though U.S. pork exports to China fell nearly 30% in 2021, total pork exports saw very strong performance thanks to outstanding growth in Latin America and other key markets. For 2021, U.S. pork export volume was 2.92 million mt, down 2% from the 2020 record, but export value still climbed 5% to a record $8.11 billion.
Mexico reclaimed its position as the leading volume destination for U.S. pork in 2021, with exports climbing to a record 874,589 mt – up 27% from a year ago and eclipsing the previous (2017) record by 9%. Export value also set a new record at $1.68 billion, up 45% from a year ago and 11% above the 2017 record.
Pork exports to Central America increased 41% to a record 139,741 mt. Export value was also record-high at $376.1 million, up 56%.
In 2021, pork exports to Japan increased 2% to 394,492 mt, valued at $1.69 billion – up 4% from a year ago and the highest since 2014. The U.S. held the top supplier position for Japan’s chilled pork imports, with volume up 2% to 205,683 mt, valued at $1.02 billion.
While total exports to China/Hong Kong declined as anticipated in 2021, the region remains a critical destination for U.S. pork variety meat. Combined muscle cut and variety meat exports to China/Hong Kong were down 29% from a year ago to 734,620 mt and value fell 27% to $1.74 billion, but variety meat exports increased significantly in both volume (328,974 mt, up 16%) and value ($810.4 million, up 22%). On a global basis, exports of U.S. pork variety meat increased 11% from a year ago to 522,089 mt and set a new record for value at $1.24 billion (up 19%).
February 9, 2022/ USMEF/ United States.
https://www.usmef.org
