Exports of U.S. beef were below the previous year’s record levels, while lamb export volume was the second largest on record, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). U.S. pork exports posted new volume and value records in 2019, reaching nearly $7 billion.
December beef exports totaled 111,315 metric tons (mt), down 1 percent from a year ago, valued at $682 million (down 3 percent). Exports in 2019 totaled 1.32 million mt, 2.5 percent below the previous year’s record volume. After increasing by more than $1 billion in 2018, beef export value eased by 3 percent to $8.1 billion.
Beef export value per head of fed slaughter was $321.21 in December, down 9 percent from a year ago. The 2019 average was $309.75, down 4 percent. December exports accounted for 14.3 percent of total beef production and 11.6 percent for muscle cuts only, down from 15.5 percent and 12.6 percent, respectively, a year ago. Exports in 2019 accounted for 14.1 percent of total beef production and 11.4 percent for muscle cuts, down from the previous year’s record-high percentages (14.6 percent and 12.1 percent, respectively).
Pork exports soared to 282,145 mt in December, up 34 percent year over year and surpassing the previous high (set in November 2019) by 9 percent. Export value was $760 million, up a remarkable 44 percent from a year ago and breaking the previous record (also from November 2019) by 7 percent. These results pushed 2019 exports 10 percent above the previous year in volume (2.67 million mt) and 9 percent higher in value ($6.95 billion), breaking previous records for both volume (2.45 million mt in 2017) and value ($6.65 billion in 2014).
Pork export value per head slaughtered was $66.70 in December, nearly one-third higher than a year ago and the highest monthly average since 2014. For 2019, per-head value averaged $53.51, up 4 percent year over year. The percentage of pork production exported also set new records in December, as exports accounted for 32.1 percent of total pork production and 29.3 percent for muscle cuts only, up substantially from a year ago (26.1 percent and 23.6 percent, respectively). In 2019, exports accounted for 26.9 percent of total pork production, up from 25.7 percent and the highest since 2012. For muscle cuts only, the ratio was 23.6 percent, up from 22.5 percent in 2018.
New beef export records
The decline in U.S. beef exports from the record levels of 2018 was partially attributable to lower shipments to Japan, which were down 6 percent in both volume (311,146 mt) and value ($1.95 billion). Similar to pork, Japan’s tariff rates for U.S. beef were lowered on Jan. 1 to match those of major competitors, with the rate for U.S. beef muscle cuts dropping from 38.5 to 26.6 percent. Another tariff rate cut will come April 1, when the Japanese fiscal year begins. December exports to Japan were slightly above year-ago levels in both volume (24,056 mt) and value ($144.6 million).
“It was gratifying to see beef exports to Japan perform so well in December, given that the first tariff rate cut was pending and set to take effect Jan. 1,” USMEF CEO and President Dan Halstrom observed. “Buyers in Japan have been waiting a very long time for tariff relief and have already responded enthusiastically. We look forward to solid growth in 2020 and beyond.”
South Korea made a strong push to become the leading value market for U.S. beef in 2019, finishing a close second to Japan at a record $1.84 billion (up 5 percent from a year ago). Korea was also the second largest volume market for U.S. beef at 255,758 mt (up 7 percent, also a new record). The U.S. captured a larger share of Korea’s chilled beef imports in 2019 at 62 percent, up from 58 percent the previous year. U.S. beef accounted for 51.5 percent of Korea’s total beef and beef variety meat imports and more than one-third of Korea’s total beef consumption.
“U.S. beef is achieving remarkable success in Korea’s traditional retail and foodservice sectors and is well-positioned to capitalize on growth in e-commerce, the institutional sector and other emerging sales channels,” Halstrom said. “As U.S. beef moves steadily toward duty-free status in Korea, it becomes accessible and affordable for a wider range of customers whose appetite for U.S. beef continues to grow. We are seeing many new menu concepts in this dynamic market and continued excitement about U.S. beef.”
Beef exports to Taiwan were record-large for the fourth consecutive year in 2019, climbing 6 percent from a year ago in volume (63,538 mt) and 3 percent in value ($567.1 million). This growth is also driven by success at foodservice and retail as Taiwan continues to embrace alternative cuts and U.S. beef is underpinning overall consumption growth. The U.S. dominates Taiwan’s chilled beef market, capturing approximately 75 percent of its chilled imports—the highest share of any Asian destination.
Highlights for U.S. beef exports
In Mexico, the third largest market for U.S. beef behind Japan and Korea, export value increased 5 percent from a year ago to $1.1 billion despite a 1 percent decline in volume (236,707 mt). This was largely due to strong demand for beef variety meat, especially tripe. Variety meat exports to Mexico increased 4 percent year over year in volume (100,645 mt) and surged 21 percent in value to $276.9 million. This included $111.7 million in tripe exports, up 30 percent from a year ago.
The largest decline in U.S. beef exports in 2019 was to China/Hong Kong (103,220 mt, down 21 percent, with value down 19 percent to $830 million). Retaliatory duties and other restrictions limited U.S. exports to China, but the Phase One trade agreement includes significant breakthroughs in market access that should allow a much larger share of U.S. beef production to be eligible for China. Although China’s beef demand has recently slowed, its overall beef imports reached a staggering $8.4 billion in 2019, a 70 percent increase over the 2018 record.
Led by strong demand in Indonesia, beef exports to the ASEAN region increased 23 percent from a year ago in volume (60,790 mt) and were 8 percent higher in value ($295.5 million). Exports to Indonesia reached record heights, climbing 67 percent from a year ago in volume (23,591 mt) and 37 percent higher in value ($85.1 million). This included a near doubling of variety meat volume (to 12,688 mt) along with substantial growth in muscle cuts.
Despite a slowdown in December, exports to the Dominican Republic easily surpassed the previous year’s record in both volume (8,034 mt, up 18 percent) and value ($65.8 million, up 13 percent).
Fueled by outstanding demand in Panama, exports to Central America increased 3 percent from a year ago in volume (15,156 mt) and 7 percent in value ($86 million). Exports to Panama surged 33 percent to 2,278 mt valued at $14.7 million (up 30 percent).
Mexico was one of several markets driving strong demand for U.S. beef variety meat in 2019. Global variety meat exports increased 4 percent from a year ago in volume (322,529 mt) and 9 percent in value ($972.9 million). Exports to Japan, which largely consist of tongues and skirts, totaled 62,948 mt, up 19 percent from a year ago, valued at $387 million (up 13 percent).
Prospects for further growth are very strong in Japan, with beef from cattle of all ages now eligible and lower tariff rates under the U.S.-Japan trade agreement (Japan’s tariff rate for U.S. tongues will phase to zero by 2028 and for other variety meat by 2030). Egypt, the largest destination for U.S. beef livers, saw a 3 percent increase in variety meat volume (63,449 mt) while export value climbed 15 percent to $73.7 million. Beef variety meat exports also posted substantial year-over-year gains in Indonesia, the Dominican Republic, Chile, Angola, Gabon, Trinidad and Tobago, Mozambique and Nicaragua.
December pork demand surges
Following a record performance in November, China/Hong Kong’s demand for U.S. pork climbed even higher in December at 110,876 mt—more than quadruple the year-ago volume—while value was nearly six times higher at $274.9 million. For 2019, pork exports to China/Hong Kong were up 89 percent to 665,665 mt, valued at $1.45 billion (up 71 percent). China/Hong Kong’s pork imports from all suppliers in 2019 reached a record 3.45 million mt, up 40 percent year over year, and accelerated into December after China’s hog prices peaked in November.
“Despite retaliatory duties and the other barriers U.S. pork faces in China, exports to the China/Hong Kong region closed 2019 with tremendous momentum,” said Halstrom. “We look forward to continued success in 2020, especially if U.S.-China trade relations continue to trend in a positive direction. The coronavirus situation is certainly concerning and disruptive, but it hasn’t dampened our enthusiasm for the potential this market holds for U.S. red meat.”
Pork exports to Mexico also closed 2019 on a high note as December volume reached 66,181 mt, up 10 percent from a year ago, and export value surged 46 percent to $137.6 million, the highest in two years. Saddled by Mexico’s retaliatory duties for the first five months of the year, 2019 exports to Mexico were down 9 percent from a year ago in volume at 708,133 mt, but recovered to finish just 2 percent lower in value at $1.28 billion.
December pork exports to leading value market Japan trailed the previous year by 3 percent in volume at 29,323 mt, but value increased 3 percent to $121.6 million. Full-year exports to Japan were down 6 percent from a year ago in both volume (369,891 mt) and value ($1.52 billion). Much of this decline was ground seasoned pork, which fell by $86 million due to a wide tariff rate disadvantage compared to European and Canadian product. Beginning Jan. 1, Japan’s tariff rates on U.S. pork and pork products were lowered to match those imposed on major competitors, with the rate for U.S. ground seasoned pork falling from 20 to 13.3 percent.
Highlights for U.S. pork exports
Led by substantial growth in Chile and Peru and an increase in shipments to mainstay market Colombia, exports to South America set new records in both volume (152,125 mt, up 12 percent year over year) and value ($382.3 million, up 16 percent).
Strong growth in Panama, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica drove pork exports to Central America to new record highs in volume (98,182 mt, up 14 percent from a year ago) and value ($239.5 million, up 19 percent).
In Oceania, a key destination for U.S. hams and other muscle cuts used for further processing, strong demand in both Australia and New Zealand pushed exports 31 percent above the previous year in volume (116,113 mt) and 34 percent higher in value ($339.2 million), setting new records.
Exports to Canada increased 4 percent from a year ago in volume (214,703 mt, the largest since 2013) and were 5 percent higher in value ($801.7 million, the highest since 2014).
Exports to South Korea slowed from the 2018 records, with volume down 14 percent to 207,650 mt and value falling 12 percent to $593 million. But U.S. share of Korea’s imports increased modestly to 36 percent, as overall import volume also declined from 2018.
Lamb export volume largest since 2011
December exports of U.S. lamb were 1,225 mt, up 9 percent from a year ago, while value jumped 24 percent to $2.36 million. For 2019, lamb export volume increased 22 percent from a year ago to 15,732 mt, valued at $26.1 million (up 12 percent). Led by strong demand in Mexico, export volume was the second highest on record behind 2011 and export value was the highest since 2014. In addition to Mexico, strong growth markets included Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Guatemala and the Philippines. — USMEF
