Latest data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation shows that American pork and beef exports fared well in February, even though the industry has been facing the challenge of soaring prices and tight supply. The positive performance was mostly due to high demand for U.S. meat in Mexico, where exports saw double-digit growth in the second month of the year, the federation said.
Figures reveal that in January and February sales of U.S. beef in Mexico increased by 26 percent in volume and 40 percent in terms of value, reaching 37,638 metric tons, worth $183 million. Pork exports went up as well, reaching 113,677 metric tons, valued at a total of $222.3 million. This means that pork exports rose by 16 percent in volume and 21 percent in value over the first two months of 2014. Mexico is also the largest market for U.S. lamb, the U.S. Meat Export Federation noted.
Meanwhile, total exports of pork in February came in at 182,412 metric tons, or 2 percent up on the same period in 2013. The total pork export value reached $506.4 million, also 2 percent up. Total beef exports for the month went down slightly from February 2013 to 85,876 metric tons, but total value rose by 12 percent to $480.3 million. Over the first two months of the year, beef exports went up 6 percent in volume and 14 percent in value, totaling $994.8 million. Pork exports in January and February increased by 2 percent in both volume and value to a total of $1.04 billion.
