The latest monthly US livestock and meat trade data recorded a decline in US pork exports, and though under highs recorded in 2020 & 2021 is well over other historical years for the month of April. US pork exports on the latest report totalled 580.6 million pounds, down 27.5m pounds from March however up 51.9m pounds from a year earlier and 179.4m pounds over last year-to-date.
US pork exports to Mexico recorded the greatest decline from previously reported, falling 34.2m pounds for April however holds 6.8m over last year. Exports to Canada also recorded a notable decrease on the month, down 14.2m pounds from March however is a modest 284 thousand pounds under a year earlier. US Pork to the Dominican Republic fell 6.9m pounds on the month but is 3.6m pounds over last year, while Colombia dropped 3.5m pounds for April and is 12.1m pounds under last year and Guatemala fell 3.1m pounds on the month but is a modest 26 thousand pounds under 2022.
Offsetting some of the earlier mentioned declines were increased US pork exports to destinations such as China* and South Korea, and more moderately Australia, the Philippines and Honduras. US pork to mainland China jumped 12.2m pounds and Taiwan rose 3.3m pounds while Hong Kong slipped 381 thousand pounds, bringing China* (including Hong Kong & Taiwan) overall 15.0m pounds higher on the month and up 16.3m pounds over last year. US pork to South Korea rose 8.0m pounds for April and is 19.4m pounds over 2022, and Australia increased 4.3m pounds on the month and is 10.4m pounds over last year. US pork to the Philippines rose 3.9m pounds from March and is 5.6m pounds over a year earlier, while Honduras increased 2.5m pounds from last reported to 1.3m pounds over last year.
Total US pork imports in April fell 8.8m pounds or -9.0% from previously reported, bringing the latest imports 41.9m pounds or -32.0% under the strong levels recorded in 2022. The overall month-over-month decline can be attributed to a reduction in pork imports from Canada which fell 8.8m pounds in April while changes in imports from other countries largely offset each other. Compared to a year earlier, US pork imports from Canada are 15.4m pounds or -21.5% under 2022. Notably, the US imported 17.9m pounds more pork from Canada than it exported to the country in the month of April.
