June Meat Exports Confirm Strong First Half

U.S. pork and beef exports in June confirmed a strong first half of the year for red meat exports. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says exports also achieved higher values on a per-head-slaughtered basis and accounted for a steady-to-higher percentage of total production. June beef exports were the largest of 2017, reaching 109,500 metric tons, up 11 percent year-over-year and the largest June total since 2011. Export value increased 10 percent to $602.5 million. For January through June, beef exports were up 12 percent in volume and 15 percent in value. Pork exports totaled 200,220 metric tons in June, up six percent year-over-year and the largest June volume on record, valued at $527.1 million, up four percent. This pushed the first-half total to 1.25 million metric tons, valued at $3.21 billion, up 13 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Exports accounted for 27 percent of total pork production in June.