Pork exports hit record

by | Feb 21, 2017 | 5 Ag Stories, News

Profit Matters 2-21-17

American Pork is in demand worldwide. That?s good, because we are producing a lot of it. The value of trade may be underestimated by the Trump administration, but forces in agriculture are doing their best to keep the pathway open to foreign markets.

With the large pork supplies, the National Pork Board has increased its focus on international marketing. Becca Nepple, who is the Pork Checkoff vice president of international marketing, says that includes a larger investment. “We have an increase in about 12% in spending dollars over 2015. This means we have to work hard using those dollars and focusing those dollars on new markets, emerging markets, and developing markets. Also, shipping a lot of that product that domestic consumers won’t consume over the next couple of years.?

The Pork Checkoff partners with the U.S. Meat Export Federation to leverage those dollars to enhance trade activity. China is a significant market and more USMEF staff is being added within that country to help drive demand. This past year was a record year for U.S. exports to China. “A lot of opportunity in China. The statistics that is impressive is if we were to export one more percent of the Chinese consumption that would equal 5% of our U.S. production. So, its a big country, the largest pork consumer in the world, and a lot of opportunity there.?

For more information, producers can contact the Pork Checkoff Service Center. Go to pork.org or call 800-456-PORK.