The latest monthly US livestock and meat trade data recorded a significant increase in pork exports, which is not uncommon for this time seasonally, rising 75.8 million pounds for a monthly tally of 641.0 million pounds in March. Current pork export numbers are up 19.9m pounds compared to last year but 19.3m pounds under last year-to-date.
Most destinations for US pork recorded increased quantities in the month of March. US pork to Japan was up the most in terms of quantity, up 22.8m pounds on the month but brings the latest exports 8.0m pounds under last year and 44.3m pounds under last YTD. US pork to South Korea was up 19.8m pounds for the latest monthly tally, but down 10.0m pounds compared to a year earlier and 31.1m pounds lower than last YTD, while Colombia rose 11.4m pounds from February exports and is 12.5m pounds over last year and 3.9m pounds above last YTD. US pork to Canada increased 6.5m pounds in March however was down 3.3m pounds compared to a year earlier and 9.8m pounds under last YTD, while Mexico increased 5.5m pounds on the month and was 23.7m pounds over last year and 24.3m pounds over last YTD. China* (including Hong Kong & Taiwan) was up 4.2m pounds overall from February quantities, rising 5.6m pounds above to a year earlier and 25.9m pounds over last YTD. Other destinations for US pork were up more moderately, generally up around 1-2 million pounds each on the month including Honduras, Panama and Australia.
US pork imports in March were also increased, up 6.2m pounds or +6.9% from the month previous. This brought the latest imports 7.9m pounds or -7.9% under last year, and 17.5m pounds or -5.9% under last year-to-date. The month-over-month rise in pork imports reflects moderately increased quantities from most major suppliers, particularly Poland (1.9m pounds), the Netherlands (1.1m pounds), United Kingdom (885 thousand pounds) and Canada (870 thousand pounds). Notably, imports from Canada are down 3.5m pounds compared to last year and 9.5m pounds under last YTD. For comparison, the US imported 11.3m pounds more pork from Canada than it exported to the country in the month of March.
