U.S. beef exports for the week of March 7-13 totaled 14,600 mt, marking another marketing-year high. Exports were up 10 percent from the previous week and were 21 percent above the previous four-week average. Volumes were strong for Japan (4,500 mt, +43 percent and the largest since August) and Mexico (3,000 mt, +43 percent and the largest since December). Exports were also higher for Taiwan (740 mt, +14 percent), but trended lower for Hong Kong/Vietnam (1,950 mt, -10 percent), South Korea (1,800 mt, -15 percent) and Canada (800 mt, -28 percent).

Beef net sales totaled 16,300 mt, up 30 percent from the previous four-week average with larger sales for Japan (4,000 mt, +25 percent), Hong Kong (3,600 mt, +13 percent), Korea (2,900 mt, +40 percent) and Mexico (2,100 mt, +40 percent). Slower sales were reported for Canada (1,000 mt, -4 percent) and Taiwan (575 mt, -14 percent).

U.S. pork exports for the week totaled 10,500 mt, down 10 percent from the previous four-week average. Exports were primarily reported for Mexico (3,700 mt, -15 percent), Korea (1,500 mt, -21 percent), Japan (1,200 mt, -13 percent), Canada (800 mt, -17 percent), Hong Kong (800 mt, +19 percent) and China (675 mt, +85 percent).

Pork net sales reached a marketing-year low of 5,200 mt, down 54 percent from the previous four-week average and mainly reported for Mexico (1,900 mt), Japan (1,100 mt), Australia (600 mt), Canada (400 mt) and Hong Kong (300 mt).

NOTES:

• Source: USDA/FAS (includes exports and sales of whole muscle cuts)
• Percent change is compared to the previous four-week average, unless otherwise noted