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U.S. pork and beef exports concluded the first half of 2012 in solid fashion, with June pork exports 4 percent higher in value than last year on steady volume.
June pork exports totaled 165,065 metric tons valued at $468.3 million. This pushed the first half total to 1.13 million metric tons valued at $3.17 billion, which was 5 percent higher in volume and 13 percent higher in value than the record pace of 2011.
Markets driving first half export growth for U.S. pork included volume leader Mexico, which was up 13 percent in volume to 294,097 metric tons and 11 percent in value to $537.4 million. Value pacesetter Japan was up 7 percent in value ($1.01 billion) despite a 7 percent decline in volume (231,984 metric tons). June was a rather slow month for Japan, with export volume posting the lowest total (32,923 metric tons) since September 2010.
Other key growth markets for U.S. pork in the first half of 2012 included: China/Hong Kong, up 28 percent in volume (221,876 metric tons) and 72 percent in value ($448.6 million); Canada, up 14 percent in volume (110,876 metric tons) and 20 percent in value ($402.8 million); and Central and South America, up 16 percent in volume (39,700 metric tons) and 17 percent in value ($101 million).
Friday August, 10/ 2012/ USMEF/ United States.
http://www.usmef.org
