The latest US Cold Storage numbers reported pork stocks at 473.8 million pounds for July, down 13.0m pounds from June and 52.7m pounds under year-ago levels. Notably, June's cold storage amount was revised -0.7% lower from 490.2m pounds down to 486.8m pounds.
Lower stocks of bellies accounted for the overall month-over-month decline, however other categories were also recorded lower such as Other pork, unclassified pork, and variety meats. Bellies in cold storage dropped 18.2m pounds in July, putting pork bellies 8.9m over a year earlier though notably under July highs recorded in 2019 & 2014. The category accounting for Other pork fell 2.2m pounds for July which is 8.7m pounds under a year earlier, while unclassified pork declined shy of a million pounds from last reported and is 3.8m pounds under July 2022. Variety meats declined 716 thousand pounds on the month and is 1.0m pounds under a year earlier, while total loins fell 396 thousand pounds from June stocks but are up 888 thousand pounds compared to July 2022 and trimmings dipped 321 thousand from last reported to bring them 117 thousand over last year.
Partially offsetting the earlier mentioned declines for pork in cold storage for the month of July were increased quantities of hams and butts, and more modestly spare-ribs and bone-in picnics. Total hams rose 7.1m pounds from June which is 7.7m pounds under last year, while butts were up 1.8m pounds for July and a modest 188 thousand pounds over 2022 and bone-in picnics climbed 181 thousand pounds on the month to bring them 1.4m pounds over a year earlier.
Competing meats in cold storage varied on the report. Total beef in cold storage was up 9.4 million pounds from June stocks though was 91.7m pounds under last year's strong supplies, while total chicken fell 12.2m pounds for July though was 33.2m poundsover a year earlier.
