The U.S. beef industry exported 1,276,446 metric tons (mt) of beef and beef variety meats in 2003, beating last year’s total (1,233,769 mt) by more than 42,000 mt. The 2003 volume was only previously exceeded in 2000. U.S. beef exports were worth almost $3.9 billion in 2003, a 21 percent increase over 2002 and a new record. The just-released USDA statistics also record that Japan regained its position as the United States’ leading market, overtaking Mexico.

U.S. Pork Exports Set Record

For the third straight year, worldwide U.S. pork exports smashed the record set in the prior year. Following the record breaking year 2002, which saw a 3 percent increase in U.S. pork exports, 2002 broke that record by 4 percent. According to statistics just released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. pork exports (including variety meats) totaled 757,905 metric tons (mt) in 2003, up from 726,357 mt in 2002. The value of U.S. pork exports rose 5 percent to $1.582 billion, breaking the record set in 2001.

U.S. pork sales to the United States’ No. 1 market, Japan, fell 1 percent after five consecutive record-breaking years for sales volume. Although exports to Japan were 1 percent lower in volume (269,621 mt) and 8 percent lower in value ($784.2 million), 2003 was the second best year for U.S. pork exports to Japan in volume and the third best year in value.

The U.S. pork industry also had a fourth successive record year in Mexico, its second largest market, breaking the records set in 2000, 2001 and 2002. U.S. pork exports to Mexico totaled 218,927 mt, a slight increase over 2002. The value of U.S. pork exports to Mexico, a new record was 17 percent higher — $295 million.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.

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