Total pork exports in April reached 237,250 metric tons, down 15% year-over-year and marking the lowest monthly total in 10 months. Export value fell 13% to $675.3 million. In addition to the 35% drop in exports to China, shipments to key markets like Mexico, Japan, and Canada also declined. However, pork exports to Colombia and Central America remained on a record-breaking pace.
Mexico Remains Top Market Despite Decline
Pork exports to Mexico totaled 91,441 mt in April — down 15% from the record set a year ago — while export value declined 18% to $197.8 million. This ended a nine-month streak of exports to Mexico exceeding $200 million in monthly value. For the January–April period, volume was down just 1% (385,844 mt), while value rose 2% to $835.6 million.
Colombia and Central America Set New Records
Colombia continued to show strong demand for U.S. pork, importing 12,079 mt in April — up 58% from last year — with export value rising 68% to $34.7 million. Cumulative exports through April reached 45,343 mt (+14%), valued at $130.7 million (+20%). USMEF also boosted promotion of pork variety meats in Colombia amid trade tensions with China. Variety meat shipments to Colombia more than doubled, totaling 1,140 mt (+107%) and valued at $3.5 million (+169%), with frozen pork feet accounting for about one-fifth of the total.
Driven by larger shipments to Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama, pork exports to Central America in April totaled 15,644 mt (+6%), valued at $49.4 million (+12%). Through April, the region imported 60,811 mt of pork and pork variety meats (+16%), worth $191.1 million (+20%). Growth was broad-based across Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.
Sharp Drop in Shipments to China
Shipments to China dropped 35% in April to 26,365 mt, with value falling 32% to $64.9 million. For January through April, exports to China were down 7% in volume (141,584 mt) and 4% in value ($342.3 million). Although retaliatory tariffs were reduced on May 14, the total duty rate on U.S. pork remains 57%, while most of China’s imports are subject to a much lower 12% most-favored-nation rate.
Lower Demand from Canada, Japan, and Korea
- Japan: April exports fell 13% to 30,015 mt, with value down 15% to $118.4 million. Year-to-date exports dropped 14% in volume (105,858 mt) and 15% in value ($423.2 million).
- South Korea: April exports totaled 23,954 mt (–9%), valued at $79.2 million (–11%). Cumulative exports were 82,168 mt (–14%) worth $265.8 million (–15%).
- Canada: April exports dropped 45% to 8,282 mt, with value down 41% to $33.9 million. From January to April, exports fell 16% in volume (58,344 mt) and 14% in value ($235.1 million). Canada imposed a 25% retaliatory duty on U.S. sausages in March, but the decline primarily affected other pork categories.
Overall Outlook
From January through April, U.S. pork exports totaled 991,738 mt — 5% below last year’s record pace — while export value dropped 4% to $2.78 billion. Despite challenges in key markets, strong performance in Latin America has helped sustain U.S. pork export momentum.
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