US Pork in Cold Storage Climbs in February, But Holds Among Lowest in 10 Years

Submitted by Suze Nolin on

 

US Pork In Cold Storage Table         The latest US Cold Storage numbers reported pork stocks at 423.1 million pounds for February, up +3.9% or 15.9m pounds from January which was revised -0.7% lower from 410.2m to 407.3m pounds. Compared to a year earlier, the latest pork stocks were down -7.7% or  35.5m pounds lower as many pork categories fell below year-ago levels. Current year-to-date stocks fell 91.6m pounds or -9.9% compared to those recorded for Jan-through-Feb 2024.

10Yr US Pork in Cold StorageUS Pork in Cold Storage

         Bellies in cold storage jumped 6.9m pounds in February but were 15.2m pounds under supplies recorded for last year and -28.4% or 35.9m pounds under last year-to-date. Total ham stocks rose 4.2m pounds on the month, with the bone-in variety rising 7.0m pounds and the boneless dropping 2.8m pounds, and overall were up 13.1m pounds compared to a year earlier which brought them +12.1% or 17.7m pounds over last YTD. Spare-ribs were up 3.9m pounds from previously reported, bringing them 475 thousand pounds under last year and 4.9m pounds or -2.8% under last YTD, while the category accounting for 'Other pork' increased 2.4m pounds for February which was 10.5m pounds under last year and down -23.1% or 22.5m pounds under last YTD. Pork butts were up 2.0m pounds from January supplies and up a modest 173 thousand pounds compared to a year earlier which brough them 245 thousand pounds or -0.6% under last YTD, while unclassified pork was up 514 thousand pounds on the month but down 11.0m pounds compared to last year and -24.4% or 22.6m pounds under last YTD. Total loins climbed 256 thousand pounds from stocks recorded for January, down 7.9m pounds under last year and 16.6m pounds or -19.6% under last YTD.

         Variety meats dropped 2.3m pounds in February, bringing them 5.9m pounds under a year earlier and -21.5% or 11.3m pounds under last last-to-date. Trimmings declined 1.6m pounds from January stocks, up a modest 623 thousand pounds higher compared to last year  and +2.1% or 2.0m pounds over last YTD. Bone-in picnics were down 442 thousand pounds, but up 1.5m pounds compared to year-ago stocks and +25.6% or 2.7m pounds over last YTD.