The latest monthly US meat trade data recorded a moderate increase in pork exports, up 2.3 million pounds for a monthly tally of 645.8 million pounds for December. The latest pork exports are up 2.0m pounds compared to a year earlier, and brings the 2024 calendar year up 297.3m pounds or +4.4% over 2023.
Many major destinations for US pork recorded decreased quantities in the month of December. US pork to Colombia and Japan were both down more than 11 million pounds on the month, however exports to Colombia were up 3.1m pounds compared to last December and up 90.2m pounds on the year while exports to Japan were 9.7m pounds lower than the previous December and tallied 17.2m pounds under 2023. US pork to Canada typically drops significantly from November into December with this year no exception, falling 9.7m pounds on the month, bringing exports to the country down 1.4m pounds under a year earlier and 2024 exports 27.8m pounds under 2023. For comparison, the US imported 13.5m pounds more pork from Canada than it exported to the country in the month of December. Notably the Dominican Republic also recorded a significant move lower, down 7.8m pounds from the previous month and 5.3m lbs under year-ago levels to bring the 2024 tally 8.5m pounds under 2023. US pork to China* (including Hong Kong & Taiwan) was down 1.8m pounds overall from November quantities but up 16.9m pounds compared to a year earlier and 71.1m pounds under 2023.
To counter the declines recorded across many major destinations for US pork were rises to countries such as Panama, Mexico, South Korea, and more moderately - Australia. US pork to Panama surged 24.4m pounds on the month, a move that is typical annually in December though forged a new historical high surpassing the previous high reached with 19.9m in December 2023, ending up 9.2m pounds compared to a year earlier and 18.9m above 2023. US pork to Mexico rose 19.0m pounds in December, down a modest 591 thousand pounds compared to a year earlier but up 95.0m pounds compared to 2023, while South Korea rose 12.6m pounds from November however was 17.4m pounds below last December but 70.9m pounds over 2023. US pork to Australia increased 5.5m pounds on the month, down a modest 388 thousand compared to a year earlier but up 63.3m pounds over 2023.
