U.S. meat exports post double-digit growth in 2014

U.S. Meat Export Federation says West Coast port congestion threatens beef and pork shippers with export delays to Asian markets.

   U.S. meat shippers posted double-digit gains in 2014 exports of beef and pork, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
   Beef export value was $7.13 billion – an increase of 16 percent (nearly $1 billion) over the previous record set in 2013 – while export volume was just under 1.2 million metric tons, which was short of the 2011 record, but up 2 percent year-over-year.
   Pork export value reached $6.67 billion, an increase of 10 percent year-over-year, breaking the 2012 record by 6 percent. Pork export volume increased 2 percent to 2.18 million metric tons, but fell short of the volume record of 2.62 million metric tons set in 2012.
   “Exports overcame significant challenges to reach these milestones, including market access restrictions in Russia and China, an appreciating U.S. dollar and, most recently, shipping difficulties related to a labor dispute in the West Coast ports,” the federation said.
   In December, beef export volume slipped 2 percent year-over-year to 100,270 metric tons, though value still increased 17 percent to $643.2 million. December pork export volume was down 5 percent to 183,498 metric tons, but value still achieved a slight increase to $541.3 million.
   “2014 was an outstanding year for red meat exports, but headwinds continued to mount late in the year,” said USMEF President and Chief Executive Officer Philip Seng in a statement. “The West Coast port congestion is extremely troubling, because the delays faced by exporters in December have become even more severe in 2015. 
   “If this dispute is not resolved soon, the meat industry will have to win back long-term customers who still want our product, but have no choice but to seek alternative suppliers,” Seng warned.
   The situation on the West Coast is particularly critical since Asian markets take a large volume of chilled U.S. beef and pork, valued at more than $2 billion in 2014, the federation noted.