USDA releases 2021 livestock trade data

Beef and broiler exports up, pork down
calendar icon 22 February 2022
clock icon 2 minute read

According to a press release from the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) in the US, trade data for the 2021 calendar year showed gains in both beef and broiler exports while pork exports fell slightly.

With the year rounded out, total beef exports were a record at 3.4 billion pounds, a 16.8% increase over 2020. Japan was the top destination at 826.4 million pounds (down 0.1%) followed by South Korea at 785.8 million pounds (up 17.9%). China took third place at 541.1 million pounds with a more than four-fold increase over 2020.

Beef imports also posted their highest level in six years with an annual total of 3.3 billion pounds, up marginally (0.2%) from 2020. Canada was the primary source at 942.3 million pounds (up 14.2%) followed by Mexico with 674.8 million pounds (up 3.6%). Shipments from Australia and New Zealand declined 37.7% and 2.4%, respectively, which were partially offset by higher levels from Brazil (up 67.1%) and Nicaragua (up 2.1%).

Pork exports posted the second highest level on record with annual exports at 7.0 billion pounds, a 3.4% decrease from the previous year’s record level of nearly 7.3 billion pounds. A 44.4% decline in shipments to China to nearly 1.2 billion pounds were partially offset by higher exports to Mexico (up 31.4%), Japan (up 2.0%), and South Korea (up 5.2%). Mexico easily captured the top destination for pork exports at a record 2.1 billion pounds while exports of 1.2 billion and 511.0 million pounds were shipped to Japan and South Korea, respectively. Pork imports jumped 30.5% to 1.2 billion pounds, the highest level since 2003. Gains in pork imports were seen from Canada (736.6 million up 28.8%), Mexico (104.1 million up 43.1%), Poland (85.4 million up 10.1%), and Denmark (83.0 million up 33.1%).

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