US Returns to Top Spot as World's Top Beef Exporter

The United States has recaptured its position as the world's leading beef exporter, out-pacing Australia and Brazil. If the trend established in the first six months of the year holds up, US beef and pork exports are likely to set several new records in 2011 and each could exceed the five-billion-dollar mark for the first time.

According to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), June beef exports achieved the second-highest value ever at $461.8 million. This was 23 per cent higher than June 2010, and has been surpassed only once – by the March 2011 value total of $475.2 million.

In terms of volume, June beef exports reached 111,362 metric tons, an increase of 15 per cent over June 2010. This brought the cumulative 2011 total to 620,851 metric tons valued at $2.55 billion, which was 25 per cent higher in volume and 40 per cent higher in value than last year's pace.

June pork exports were slightly higher in volume than last year and six per cent higher in value. This pushed first-half pork exports to 1.08 million metric tons valued at $2.81 billion – year-over-year increases of 14 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively. When compared to the all-time record year of 2008, the pace of this year's pork exports is six per cent higher in volume and 21 per cent higher in value.

Less dramatic but still positive for the US industry was the latest news that poultry meat exports set a record in terms of value for the first half of 2011 to $2.16 billion, 10 per cent above the equivalent figure for last year.

USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) says the trade data from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service shows poultry exports for the first half of 2011 as a new year-on-year record in value – up 10 per cent to $2.16 billion – while the quantity was the third-highest on record at 1.77 million metric tons and two per cent higher than the same period of 2010.

For the month of June, exports of broiler meat (excluding chicken paws) actually declined by 14 per cent but value for the month dipped by less than a point. The quantity decline reflects lower shipments to several key markets.

And finally, continuing the theme of meat trade, it was confirmed at the end of last week that Russia has banned imports from 37 Brazilian meat processors, citing problems in the local veterinary service.