Beef exports stay strong, pork exports slump

February beef exports were the second most ever for the month. Pork exports plunged amid sharply reduced shipments to China.

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The U.S. exported 254.4 million lbs. of beef in February, down 33.2 million lbs. (11.5%) from January but up 4.1 million lbs. (1.6%) from last year and only 1.2 million lbs. below the record for the month posted in 2020. Through the first two months of this calendar year, the U.S. shipped 542.1 million lbs. of beef, up 45.7 million lbs. (9.2%) from the same period last year.

U.S. pork exports totaled 486.2 million lbs. in February, down 24.0 million lbs. (4.7%) from January and 105.7 million lbs. (17.9%) below last year’s tally. In the first two months of 2022, the U.S. shipped 996.5 million lbs. of pork, down 201.5 million lbs. (16.8%) from last year. U.S. pork shipments to China in the first two months of the year plunged 199.6 million lbs. (71.1%) from last year.