The latest monthly US livestock and meat trade data recorded a significant decline in pork exports, dropping 69.0 million pounds for a monthly tally of 576.8 million pounds for January which were down 10.9m pounds compared to a year earlier.
Most major destinations for US pork recorded decreased quantities in the month of January. US pork to Panama dropped sharply, 26.9m pounds lower on the month in a seasonal move following a steep jump recorded in December and brings the latest exports 366 thousand pounds or -14.1% under last year. US pork to Mexico fell 8.6m pounds in January however held 4.3m pounds over a year earlier, while Colombia recorded a 7.6m pound drop in the latest month and was 5.6m pounds under January 2024. US pork to Canada and Japan were each down around 6.9m pounds from December, however Canada was down 4.1m pounds compared to a year earlier and Japan was recorded 20.0m pounds lower compared to the previous January. US pork to South Korea fell 6.0m pounds on the month and was 12.0m pounds under a year earlier, while China* (including Hong Kong & Taiwan) was down 5.1m pounds overall from December quantities but up 15.7m pounds compared to a year earlier.
Very few destinations for US pork recorded increases in January, however US pork to New Zealand was most notable rising 1.2m pounds or +61.7% from December and up 1.1m pounds or +57.0% compared to January 2024. Other destinations such as the Philippines, Australia and Guatemala recorded more moderate increases, generally up 550-750 thousand pounds on the month and 1-3 million pounds higher compared to last year.
US pork imports in January fell 1.0m pounds or -1.1% from a month earlier, and brings the latest imports 3.5m pounds or -3.6% under last year. The month-over-month reduction in pork imports reflects decreased quantities from Poland, Italy and Mexico, however tempered by increases from Brazil and Denmark. Imports from Canada edged 256 thousand pounds higher than previously reported and was 3.0m pounds under a year earlier. For comparison, the US imported 20.7m pounds more pork from Canada than it exported to the country in the month of January.
