U.S. beef and lamb exports in June increased year-over-year in terms of volumes and value, despite tariffs hindering pork shipments to other countries, according to data provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Pork exports refer to pork and pork variety meat; beef exports refer to beef and beef variety meat; and lamb exports refer to lamb, mutton and lamb variety meat.
The U.S. exported 191,303 metric tons of pork in June valued at $510.4 million, a decline of 4.5 percent and 3.2 percent year-over-year, respectively, largely resulting from fewer shipments to China/Hong Kong and Mexico.
On April 2, the import duty on U.S. pork and pork variety meats entering China increased from 12 percent to 37 percent, and on July 6, the rate increased to 62 percent, but pork still enters Hong Kong duty free.
On June 5, Mexico imposed a 10 percent retaliatory duty on U.S. pork muscle cuts, excluding variety meats, and increased the rate to 20 percent on July 5. Pork sausages and prepared hams entering Mexico from the United States also have been subject to duties of 15 percent and 20 percent, respectively, since June 5.
However, Mexico was still the leading volumes market for U.S. pork exports in June at 59,967 metric tons, while Japan was the leading value market at $131.9 million.
Meanwhile, the U.S. exported a total of 115,718 metric tons of beef valued at $718.4 million in June, up 5.6 percent and 19.2 percent year-over-year, respectively. Japan was the leading market in terms of volumes and value during the month, with beef exports to the nation totaling 31,147 metric tons valued at $193.1 million.
U.S. lamb exports in June totaled 1,016 metric tons valued at $2.2 million, increasing 58.3 percent and 25.8 percent year-over-year, respectively. Stronger variety meat demand in Mexico fueled much of this growth, while muscle cut exports trended higher to the Caribbean, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Singapore, the Philippines and Taiwan.
Mexico was the leading market for U.S. lamb shipments in terms of volumes during the month at 687 metric tons. However, in terms of value, the Caribbean was the leading market, with U.S. lamb shipments to the Caribbean valued at $794,000 for the month.
Looking ahead, the USMEF said U.S. lamb exports should receive an additional boost from Japan, which reopened to U.S. lamb on July 11.