Although the continued closure of the Russian market (the sixth largest market for U.S. beef) continues to be an obstacle, other key markets such as Mexico and Japan are showing positive signs.
The top performing beef export markets in June by volume were Japan (+66%), Hone Kong (+156%), Mexico (+14%), Taiwan (+400%), and Central/South America (+62%). Because of factors such as expanded access for U.S. beef in the Japanese market, growth in both the Hong Kong and Central/South American markets and the rebound in the Taiwanese market, U.S. beef exports in June increased 8% in volume to 101,720 MT and 21% in value to $562.3 million from a year earlier. Pork exports increased 2.4% in volume to 169,098 MT while increasing in volume to $469.7 million, and lamb exports increased 29% in volume to 1,423 MT and approximately 4% in value to $2.5 million from June 2012. A positive pork image campaign in Mexico is showing positive results- there was a 20% increase in pork exports to Mexico in the first half of 2013, almost matching the record pace of 2012. To read more about U.S. meat export volume and value data for the first half of 2013 and for the year:
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