September 12, 2013
US beef exports to Japan up 51.6% in Jan-Jul 2013
During the first seven months of 2013, US beef exports to Japan were up 51.6% compared to a year ago.
July beef exports to Japan were the highest they have been since October 2003, according to Ron Plain, Extension livestock marketing economist at the University of Missouri.
Overall, the US exported 11.5% of total beefproduction, which Plain says is the second highest percentage ever recorded.
He says the Russian ban on meat containing ractopamine has virtually halted any exports there. He added beef exports to South Korea are also down 27% this year.
Compared to a year ago, live cattle imports were down 30% in July. Mexican imports were down 51%, while imports from Canada were up 12%.
Pork exports in July were up just over 2% from a year ago. Plain says that increase comes from three places, Japan, Mexico and Canada - each purchased more US pork than last July. "Shipments to Russia and South Korea were down," he added.
Over 22% of US pork production was exported in July. Pork imports in July were up 11.7%, equalling just over 4% of US production. Overall, Plain says pork exports are down 9.2% over the first seven months of 2013, while pork imports are up 5.7%.
July feeder pig imports were down just under 8% with other hog imports down 6.4%, while fed cattle prices were lower this past week, Plain says. The five-area average price was just over US$122 per hundredweight, down over a buck from the previous week but still US$0.62 higher than a year ago.