Although pork exports were down from the large totals recorded in March 2014, export volume was the largest in 11 months at 191,041 metric tons (mt).

This was nine per cent lower than a year ago, but a 10 per cent increase from February. Export value of $495.3 million was down 18 per cent year-over-year, but up 5 per cent from February.

March beef exports reached 86,774 mt, down seven per cent from a year ago but a five per cent increase over February. Export value was $527.3 million, up two per cent year-over-year but down slightly from February.

The March results reflect some degree of relief from the West Coast port congestion that plagued red meat exports in January and February. Port traffic began to improve after a tentative labour contract was reached in late February, though congestion lingered for several weeks at some major ports.

“Port congestion remained an issue well into March – and even into April in the Southern California ports – but the announcement of the new labour contract certainly improved the business climate,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng.

“After months of frustration, the US meat industry was finally able to reassure Asian buyers that the worst of the crisis was behind us and that they could once again count on the U.S. to fulfil its role as a reliable supplier. This was especially important for customers purchasing chilled pork and beef, which require very prompt delivery due to product shelf life.”

In addition to shipping concerns, US exporters have found their competitive position in some key markets damaged by large volumes of lower-priced products from other supplying countries. In many cases, diminished purchasing power due to the strength of the US dollar has made the price disadvantage even more severe. Market access barriers also remain a concern in some markets, most importantly China and Russia.

“Closure of the Russian market to European pork continues to impact all major pork suppliers, as the EU has focused very aggressively on alternative markets in Asia,” Mr Seng said.

“In the beef complex, the projected slowdown in Australia’s production may still be coming, but certainly did not materialize in the first quarter.

“These are unusual conditions that are made more difficult by the strong U.S. dollar, but now isn’t the time to dwell on the stiff headwinds we are facing. We must aggressively defend the customer base the U.S. industry has worked so hard to build over the years by reaffirming the value and quality delivered by US red meat.”

March Pork Export Volume Highest Since April 2014

March pork exports accounted for 25 per cent of total production and 21 per cent for muscle cuts only – the latter being the largest percentage since July of last year. First-quarter ratios were 23 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively.

Export value per head slaughtered was $50.10 in March, down nearly $20 from a year ago, but roughly steady with the per-head value recorded in March 2013. For the first quarter, per-head export value was $49.48, down 19 per cent from last year and down seven per cent from the first quarter of 2013.

First-quarter pork exports to Mexico topped last year’s record pace by seven per cent in volume, reaching 179,507 mt, though value was down 6 per cent to $321.2 million. Year-over-year growth in the first quarter was led by South Korea, where exports increased by 43 per cent in volume (57,376 mt) and 55 per cent in value ($180.4 million). Exports to Canada were up two per cent in volume (48,905 mt) while export value was steady with last year’s pace at $192.4 million.

Offsetting these results, however, were lower exports to Japan and China/Hong Kong. First-quarter exports to Japan declined 13 per cent in volume (103,921 mt) and 19 per cent in value ($386.6 million) as Japan’s total imports slowed after accumulating large frozen inventories of EU pork.

Exports to China/Hong Kong fell 40 per cent in volume (67,754 mt) and 42 per cent in value ($152.1 million) in the first quarter, although March exports were the largest in 12 months. Results in Latin American markets were mixed, with year-over-year growth achieved in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala and Panama, but exports declined to Colombia and Chile.

Japan, Mexico Mainstays for US Beef

March beef exports accounted for 13 per cent of total production and 10 per cent for muscle cuts only, slightly exceeding first-quarter ratios but down from 14 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively, from March 2014. Export value per head of fed slaughter was $284.30 in March, up five per cent from a year ago. For the first quarter, per-head export value was $290.32, up nine per cent.

So far in 2015, beef exports to Japan have performed extremely well despite significant obstacles – including the West Coast port situation, a weakened Japanese yen and a tariff advantage for Australian beef under the recently implemented Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement.

First-quarter exports to Japan increased 4 per cent in volume (48,347 mt) and 11 per cent in value ($322.8 million). Exports to Mexico increased 4 per cent in value ($285 million) despite slipping 1 per cent in volume (56,582 mt).

Beef exports to Korea got off to a very slow start in 2015, but continued to gain momentum in March. First-quarter volume was still down four per cent from a year ago to 27,624 mt, but export value was up two per cent to $204.1 million. Exports to Taiwan trended in the opposite direction, slowing in March after a very solid start.

First-quarter volume to Taiwan was down 10 per cent to 6,382 mt, while value was up 11 per cent to $64.1 million. Exports to Hong Kong, which were record-large in 2014 but slowed toward the end of the year, were down 21 per cent in volume (27,841 mt) and 6 per cent in value ($211.9 million) in the first quarter.

March Lamb Exports Steady

March exports of US lamb were down slightly in volume (728 mt) from a year ago but steady in value at $1.92 million – the largest monthly value total since November. First-quarter exports were down 14 per cent in volume (2,271 mt) and 18 per cent in value ($5.36 million) as growth in the Caribbean and Middle East was offset by lower totals for Mexic