WASHINGTON – In the totals for 2021, data compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) from the US Department of Agriculture showed that US beef exports exceeded the previous volume and value record in 2021 and surpassed $10 billion, for the first time.
Pork export data showed that volume was slightly below the record, but a new value record was set topping $8 billion.
Total beef exports for the month of December came in at 121,429 tonnes, with export volume up 1% from a year ago. Value climbed 33% to $991.8 million, the third-largest month on record. Total results from 2021 showed volume at 1.44 million tonnes, a 15% increase from last year. It’s also 7% above the previous record set in 2018. Export value also increased to $10.58 billion, up 38% from 2020 and breaking the previous record in 2018 by 27%.
“The beef export results are truly remarkable, especially considering the COVID-related obstacles in the global foodservice sector and all the supply-side and logistical challenges faced by the US industry,” said Dan Halstrom, president and chief executive officer of the USMEF. “Obviously our large Asian markets accounted for much of the growth, but it really takes broad-based global demand to reach these impressive levels.”
For pork exports, volume fell 17% from a year ago to 215,872 tonnes as export value reached $604.3 million, down 12% compared to the same month last year. In 2021, pork export volume fell slightly behind the 2020 pace at 2.92 million tonnes. However, export value stood at $8.11 billion, up 5% from a year ago, which was a record.
Beef exports to China/Hong Kong finished strong in 2021 by making $2.09 billion, up 114% from 2020; volume also climbed 87% to 240,827 tonnes. Through the year, Mexican pork exports climbed to a record 874,589 mt, up 27% from 2020. Global exports of US pork variety meat set a new value record of $1.24 billion, up 19% year-over-year.
Lamb exports showed 2021 exports 9% above 2020 at 14,053 tonnes, which put value up 19% to $20.45 million.