The latest US Cold Storage numbers reported pork stocks at 521.2 million pounds for February, a modest 2.3m pounds higher from January and 42.9m pounds over year-ago levels.
Lessened amounts of loins, trimmings, butts, picnics and Other pork were offset by increased quantities of hams, variety meats, and bellies in the month of February. Compared to the lower supplies recorded for this time last year, most primals are above year-ago levels with exception to trimmings, and loins which were near even with levels reported a year earlier.
Total hams recorded the largest increase from previously reported (though considered seasonal), up 6.5m pounds on the month due to sharply increased bone-in hams while boneless supplies declined, bringing hams overall 857 thousand pounds over supplies recorded last year. Unclassified pork in cold storage rose 3.5m pounds on the month and is 3.4m pounds over last year, while variety meats were up 1.7m pounds from last reported and are 1.9m pounds over February of last year. Bellies in cold storage climbed shy of a million pounds on the month, bringing belly supplies 20.8m pounds over this time last year. Spare-ribs recorded very little change from previously reported, however compared to a year earlier rib supplies are up 9.7m pounds.
The category accounting for Other Pork fell 3.8m pounds on the latest report, brining those supplies 5.7m pounds over last year. Total loins in cold storage fell 2.5m pounds from January levels, with the boneless variety accounting for the majority of the decline, bringing current loin stocks overall near even with a year earlier. Trimmings were down 2.0m pounds for February and 2.9m under 2022, while butts declined 1.5m pounds on the month but were 2.9m pounds over last year, and bone-in picnics fell 572 thousand pounds on the month but is 793 thousand pounds over 2022.
