Pork Exports Open On High Note; Beef Value, Too

U.S. pork exports trended higher year-over-year in January, led by another outstanding performance from leading market Mexico. This is according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

January pork exports totaled 250,861 metric tons, up 3 percent from a year ago, while value increased 4 percent to $692.1 million. In addition to Mexico, exports were larger year-over-year to Latin America, including Mexico, Columbia, and the Dominican Republic. But Asia was also a point of interest, explains USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom.

“We saw a pretty big month from Asia, specifically Japan on pork, 27,000 metric tons, up 22 percent from a year ago,” Halstrom says. “Korea was strong as well. Even Taiwan was strong – 1300 metric tons, three times what we were the previous year.”

January beef exports were lower than a year ago due to the prolonged lockout in China, but export value per head of fed slaughter was more than $415, the highest since March and reflecting solid demand in other markets. As Halstrom explains, beef variety meats were a major bright spot, with export value topping the previous monthly high reached in December.

“If you look at the beef side in general, while down – down about 10% year-on-year, you take China out of the mix and we’re up. We’re up 5% on volume and 16% on value,” he says. “So I think this is a testament to the fact that in the rest of the world demand remains very, very good on U.S. beef.”

That beef demand was particularly strong in Asia.

“Two big markets, Japan and Korea, up significantly, 5% roughly each. But the real story for January is
Taiwan, up almost 80% on volume, year-on-year – not exciting just because of that fact, but we do have
a reciprocal trade agreement with announcements here last month about increased access and better
terms, and those aren’t even in effect yet,” he says. “So the fact that we had this growth without the benefit of what’s going to happen to the reciprocal trade agreement really is good news as we look forward later into 2026.”