The latest monthly US livestock and meat trade data recorded a sizeable, seasonal decline in US pork exports for the month of February. US pork exports on the latest report totalled 504.2 million pounds, down 51.5m pounds from January, up 18.0m pounds over a year earlier and 63.5m pounds over last year-to-date.
Reduced pork exports to Mexico accounted for the majority of the month-over-month decline, dropping 49.6m pounds from previously reported and 1.8m pounds under a year earlier. US pork to mainland China fell 11.7m pounds for February, bringing China* (including Hong Kong & Taiwan) overall 10.2m pounds lower on the month however up 6.8m pounds over last year. Exports to Canada were down 5.4m pounds for February however up 3.4m pounds compared to Feb 2022, while South Korea fell 3.6m pounds on the month and 2.0m pounds under last year.
Reported increases of US pork exports to destinations such as the Dominican Republic, Australia, Guatemala and Japan helped to offset declines to other countries. US pork to the Dominican Republic rose 7.5m pounds for February and is up 14.3m pounds over a year earlier, while Australia rose 3.9m pounds on the month however is a more moderate 321 thousand pounds over last year. Guatemala jumped 2.9m pounds for February and is 3.0m over 2022, while Japan climbed 1.3m pounds from the month previous however is 9.9m pounds lower on the year.
Total US pork imports in February declined 3.5m pounds or -3.7% from previously reported, bringing the latest imports 25.3m pounds or -21.7% under the strong levels recorded in 2022. Pork imports from Canada into the US were 3.4m pounds lower in February and 10.0m pounds under a year earlier. Notably, the US imported 22.6m pounds more pork from Canada than it exported to the country in the month of February.