The latest monthly US livestock and meat trade data recorded pork exports at 587.8 million pounds, falling 56.1m pounds from December as most destinations for US pork reported declines and brings current pork exports for January 32.0m pounds over a year earlier.
US pork to Panama dropped 17.3m pounds in January in a seasonal move following its typical surge recorded every December and is 1.6m pounds over a year earlier. Mexico declined 13.5m pounds in the latest data but is 7.3m pounds over last year, while South Korea fell 11.4m pounds in January after recording a 4.5-year high in December and is up 21.8m pounds over a year earlier. US pork to Canada declined 4.2m pounds from last reported and is 4.4m pounds under last year, while pork to China* (including Hong Kong & Taiwan) fell 3.9m pounds in January and is 29.9m pounds under year-ago levels. Other destinations for US pork recorded more moderate reductions, generally down 1-2m pounds, such as: the Dominican Republic, Australia, Chile, Honduras and Guatemala.
US pork to Japan increased 3.4m pounds from last reported and is a modest 664 thousand pounds over last year, while Colombia increased 1.0m pounds on the month and is 10.0m pounds over a year earlier. Other destinations such as New Zealand and the Philippines recorded more modest rises of around 500 thousand pounds in January, with New Zealand nearly a million pounds over a year earlier while the Philippines is 1.7m pounds under last year.
