It’s no fluke – for the second year in a row, Mexico topped Japan as the largest customer for U.S. pork exports in terms of volume, buying 31 percent of all U.S. pork shipped to foreign buyers while 26 percent of exports went to Japan, say USDA economists. Last year, the split in market share between the countries was 28-23, according to the monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook. Mexico favors lower-cost cuts with the result that Japan is still No. 1 in dollar terms, a $1.6 billion market in 2015 vs. Mexico at $1.1 billion.
Altogether, U.S. pork exports totaled 4.94 billion pounds in 2015, with 1.555 billion pounds going to Mexico and 1.209 billion pounds going to Japan. Exports rose by nearly 2 percent from 2014. The strong U.S. dollar constrained sales to half of the 10 largest markets for U.S. pork. Acting as a counter-weight were lower U.S. prices and a larger pork supply due to a rapid expansion of hog herds. Pork exports were worth an average $1.04 per pound last year, down by 21 cents from 2014.
USDA forecasts exports of 5.125 billion pounds of pork this year, an increase of nearly 4 percent, as pork production continues to expand. If the forecast proves true, one-fifth of U.S. pork will be exported. Beef and poultry exports also are forecast to increase this year.