U.S. pork exports for June were up 7% year on year to total 181,531 tons for the month – driving export values up by 25% to $585.1 million. For the first half of 2014, pork exports increased 9% year on year to 1.15 million tons to reach a record value of $3.4 billion. Beef exports for June were up 5% in volume to 106,609 tons, pushing monthly export values to a record $631.7 million – up 12% year on year. Beef exports for the first half of 2014 increased 8% to 585,953 tons to set a new value record of $3.27 billion. Although competition for market share in Asia has intensified over the past six months after EU pork was banned by Russia, U.S. pork saw a 31% increase in export volumes to South Korea and a 3% increase in export volumes to Japan in the first half of the year. U.S. pork exports saw an 83% increase to Columbia, a 15% increase to Mexico, and a 17% increase to Australia. To South America overall, U.S. pork exports saw a 12% increase in volume to 59,619 tons and a 21% increase in value to $160.8 million. U.S. beef export values per head are approaching $300, up from $150 per head four years ago. Beef exports to Mexico increased 30% to 116,337 tons and beef exports to South Korea increased 11% to reach 56,478 tons with a 40% increase in value to $379.5 million. Export volumes to Hong Kong increased 55% after regaining full market access in June to reach 71,829 tons with a 76% jump in value to $492.5 million. To read further:
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