U.S. pork exports for the week of Aug. 12-18 totaled 18,200 metric tons (mt), up 2 percent from the previous week and steady with the previous four-week average. Exports to Mexico (7,380 mt, +17 percent) were the largest since December, while exports also trended slightly higher for Hong Kong (1,140 mt, +1 percent) and steady for Chile (370 mt). Exports were lower for Japan (3,560 mt, -15 percent), Canada (1,390 mt, -10 percent), China (1,390 mt, -20 percent), South Korea (1,170 mt, -5 percent), Australia (500 mt, -1 percent) and Colombia (330 mt, -8 percent).

Pork net sales were 27,100 mt, up 77 percent from the previous week and 87 percent above the previous four-week average. Sales were led by significant increases to Mexico (9,150 mt, +102 percent and the largest since May), Korea (6,570 mt, +347 percent and the largest since June 2015) and Japan (6,210 mt, +52 percent and the largest since April). Sales were also higher for Canada (1,710 mt, +34 percent), Australia (1,100 mt, +7 percent) and Colombia (460 mt, +105 percent). Net sales for China (300 mt) were positive for the fourth consecutive week, following three weeks of corrections. Sales slowed to Hong Kong (950 mt, -1 percent) and Chile (50 mt, -92 percent). For 2017, net sales were reported for Australia (2,000 mt).

U.S. beef exports totaled 13,900 mt, down 5 percent from the previous week and 4 percent below the previous four-week average, as modest increases for Korea (4,120 mt, +5 percent), Hong Kong (1,260 mt, +6 percent), Taiwan (1,100 mt, +1 percent) and Canada (1,020 mt, +3 percent) were offset by lower exports to Japan (4,060 mt, -14 percent) and Mexico (1,690 mt, -9 percent).

Beef net sales were 8,000 mt, down 43 percent from the previous week and 53 percent below the previous four-week average. Sales increased to Taiwan (1,350 mt, +13 percent) but slowed to other main destinations including Korea (1,970 mt, -47 percent), Mexico (1,210 mt, -40 percent), Hong Kong (1,230 mt, -48 percent), Japan (930 mt, -85 percent) and Canada (480 mt, -46 percent). For 2017, net sales of 100 mt were reported for Taiwan.

• Source: USDA/FAS (includes exports and sales of whole muscle cuts).
• Percent change is compared to the previous four-week average, unless otherwise noted.
• Export is defined as an actual shipment from the U.S. to a foreign country.
• Export sale is defined as a transaction entered into between a reporting exporter and a foreign buyer. Sales can be cancelled or adjusted in following weeks, thus “net” sales are reported as the difference between new sales and any cancellations or adjustments.