U.S. pork exports were at a record-high in July while beef exports were relatively steady with last year’s strong results. That’s from data released by the USDA and put together by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
July pork exports surged to 233,242 metric tons, a 32 percent jump that topped the previous record set in 2018. Export value was $623.3 million, up 34 percent as it broke the previous high reached in November of 2017.
Although U.S. pork faces retaliatory tariffs in China, American pork exports to China and Hong Kong contributed a good chunk of the July volume and value records. Beef exports increased one percent in July to 117,842 metric tons. The export value of $720.4 million was down slightly from a year ago but was still the seventh-highest monthly total on record.
January-July beef exports were down two percent from a year ago in volume, while export value was slightly below last year’s record pace. Shipments to Mexico jumped higher in July after a 20 percent tariff was removed.