This is according to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Through April 2026, U.S. pork exports to Mexico had been on track for a new record. However, restrictions related to the Aujeszky’s disease virus significantly reduced shipments of pork variety meats in May.
Mexico is normally the second-largest market for U.S. pork variety meats after China. It is the leading destination for pork skins and jowls, as well as an important market for snouts, stomachs, tongues and hearts.
Due to the sharp decline in shipments of these products, combined exports of pork and pork variety meats to Mexico totalled just 81,047 tonnes in May, down 17% from a year earlier. This was the lowest monthly volume since July 2023.
Export value fell by 14%, or approximately US$30 million, to US$185.7 million. This ended a run of 13 consecutive months in which monthly exports to Mexico had exceeded US$200 million.
Nevertheless, total shipments to Mexico between January and May remained slightly above the previous year’s level. During the five-month period, the United States exported 484,722 tonnes of pork and pork variety meats, while export value increased by 3% to US$1.09 billion.
Some offal shipments resumed in early June. However, USMEF expects exports to remain significantly below year-earlier levels until Mexico fully removes the restrictions.
Japan Increases Purchases by More Than a Quarter
Against the backdrop of lower shipments to Mexico, Japanese demand for U.S. pork continued to strengthen. Exports to Japan increased by 26% in May to 37,872 tonnes, the highest monthly volume since March 2021.
Export value rose by 25% to US$145.7 million, the strongest result since November 2021.
Between January and May, the United States exported 161,330 tonnes of pork to Japan, up 19% from the same period last year. Export value increased by 14% to US$613.7 million.
Central America also recorded positive growth. Driven by stronger shipments to Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala, May exports to the region increased by 10% to 16,187 tonnes, while their value rose by 11% to US$53.1 million.
During the first five months of the year, shipments to Central America reached 81,741 tonnes, 8% above last year’s record pace. Their value increased by 13% to US$270.7 million.
PigUA.info, based on materials from thepigsite.com