Exports of U.S. beef and pork lost momentum in May, falling below year-ago levels in both volume and value. That’s according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
Joe Schuele with USMEF says the data was disappointing.

Beef exports dropped 14 percent from a year ago by volume to 88,466 metric tons. Export value dipped $556.7 million, down 6 percent compared to May of last year. This is due to a pullback in key markets like Japan and Mexico.

Pork exports totaled 184,865 metric tons in May, down 2 percent from a year ago by volume, while value slipped 18 percent to $489.2 million. He says weakness in the same markets as beef, hurt pork sales.
The inability to open the Chinese market has hurt beef exports and their rejection of pork produced with ractopamine has held back pork exports.

For January through May, exports totaled 430,393 metric tons, down 10 percent from the same period in 2014. Export value remained ahead of last year’s pace at $2.68 billion (up 2 percent).