The latest monthly US livestock and meat trade data recorded pork exports at 512.0 million pounds, down 14.7m pounds in September and brings current pork exports near even with last year, down a modest 962 thousand pounds. Compared to last year-to-date, US pork exports for 2023 are up 335.6m pounds or +7.2% higher compared to the same months in 2022.
US pork to Japan dropped 15.2m pounds, the largest move recorded on the latest report, bringing exports to the country down 19.3m under last year. US pork to China* (including Hong Kong & Taiwan) fell 5.0m pounds in September largely due to reduced quantities to the mainland, and overall is 21.7m pounds under a year earlier. Mexico recorded a 4.0m pound decline on the month however is 20.6m pounds over this time last year, while New Zealand dropped 2.4m pounds from August but is 1.1m pounds over 2022.
US pork exports to Canada rose 10.3m pounds for September and is 6.6m pounds over last year. For comparison, the US imported 2.0m pounds more pork from Canada than it exported to the country in the month of September. Other destinations that recorded notable increases from previously reported were Chile and Panama, each up around 1.2m pounds on the month, with Chile is 1.1m pounds higher and Panama is up 757 thousand pounds over last year.
US pork imports slid lower in September, down 1.7m pounds or -1.8% from August and brings current imports 8.2m pounds or -8.1% under last year. Imports from Canada fell 3.1m pounds on the month however were offset in part by increased quantities from Denmark and Brazil, up 1.7m and 1.3m pounds respectively. Year-to-date, US pork imports are 205.1m pounds or -19.6% under the same months last year.
