The U.S. Meat Export Federation has presented a positive outlook for U.S. meat exports – according to Agri-Pulse. USMEF Chairman Mark Jagles says the U.S. average export value per hog slaughtered during the first quarter of this year was more than 60-dollars – which is a 14-percent increase from last year. Jagles says the average for U.S. beef per head for fed steers and heifers was nearly 225-dollars per head – a 15-percent increase from last year. He says the export value per head for pork and beef has never been higher than it is today. USMEF President Phil Seng says Mexico and Canada have been two of the most consistent markets for U.S. beef exports in the 20-years since NAFTA went into effect – as beef exports are up 11-percent in volume since last year and nine-percent in value. He says pork is up 11-percent in volume and 11-percent in value.
Seng notes growth in markets in Central America, South America, Japan and Asia – with Japan becoming the leading beef value market with a 20-percent increase in the fourth quarter. Seng says this is just a testament that when the U.S. does trade agreements correctly – the industry benefits long term.