U.S. pork exports topped year-ago totals for the second consecutive month in September, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
September beef exports were below last year for the first time in 2022, but exports remain on a record pace through the first three quarters of the year.
Pork exports reached 222,202 metric tons in September, up one percent from a year ago. Export value increased nine percent to $664.8 million – the highest since June 2021.
Through September, pork exports were 13 percent below last year at 1.94 million metric tons, valued at $5.57 billion. September beef exports totaled 115,487 metric tons, valued at $890.3 million, down seven percent from a year ago in both volume and value.
For the first nine months of 2022, beef exports were still four percent above last year at 1.12 million metric tons. Export value reached $9.12 billion, up 20 percent and already achieving the second-highest total for any calendar year, trailing only the 2021 record of $10.58 billion.