According to the latest estimates from the U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S. beef exports are expected to increase by 5% in value in 2014 despite a 2.7% decrease in volume because of record prices. The federation also originally predicted that pork exports would increase 8% however the continuing issues with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus outbreaks will likely stem supply growth and exports. Adjusted estimates for pork exports currently are at a 2% increase for 2014. Challenges remain for the meat industry however. The closing of the Russian market, increased competition, oversupply and being locked out of the world’s biggest market – China, despite China’s beef imports being up 800% indicating extremely strong demand and lack of domestic supply. In order to attempt to help exporters gain a foothold in the Russian market, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced a new marketing claim entitled “Never Fed Beta Agonists” as part of its process-verifying program in lieu of a federal shift in policy.
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