Led by a record-shattering performance in Mexico and broad-based growth in other markets, U.S. pork exports set a value record in 2023, according to year-end data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation. While 2023 beef exports were below the record totals posted the previous year, December exports were the largest since August and December export value increased 10% year-over-year.
December pork exports climbed nearly 10% from a year ago to 268,399 metric tons (mt), the largest since May 2021 and the eighth largest on record. Export value increased 11% to $765.8 million, also the highest since May 2021 and the third highest on record. While December exports trended higher in many key markets, Mexico was once again the star performer, setting records for both volume (105,451 mt) and value ($233.8 million).
Pork exports set annual volume and value records in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Malaysia, as well as value records in Central America and Colombia. Exports to South Korea were the third largest on record and second highest in value, while shipments to Oceania were the largest since 2020.
December exports of U.S. beef totaled 108,497 mt, down 4% year-over-year but the largest since August. Export value was also the highest since August and climbed 10% year-over-year to $860.8 million.
2023 beef exports totaled 1.29 million mt, down 12% from the 2022 record. While export value fell 15% to just under $10 billion, this was still the third highest annual value for beef exports.
Mexico’s demand for U.S. beef continued to strengthen in December, pushing 2023 exports to the largest volume since 2019 and export value to $1.19 billion, the second highest on record. Beef exports to Central America and the Dominican Republic were record-large in 2023, while shipments also trended higher to Hong Kong, Africa and Peru. While December exports to leading market South Korea remained lower than a year ago in volume, export value ($220.6 million) was the highest in 18 months. This helped push December export value per head of fed slaughter to $431.50, the highest since April. For the year, per-head export value averaged $397.04.
USMEF news release
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