US pork exports: from years of rising trend to stagnation
US pork exports, which had been trending upwards for years, experienced a significant break in 2013. There were also interruptions of this kind in previous years. This time there is more behind it.
Exports to Russia were completely halted due to the ractopamine import ban. Exports to South Korea were halved after the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic in that country was overcome and its own pig population returned to normal.
Although exports to Japan are still at a high level, there is no longer any growth.
After soaring at the end of 2011, China-Hong Kong exports have since fallen by half. An increase in Hong Kong imports was more than offset by a reduction in direct deliveries to China.
Exports to Mexico and Canada have increased, albeit to a comparatively small extent.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects that developments in the coming year 2014 will not result in any significant increases, but should remain at the current average level.
European exports to Asia have provided similar experiences. Fortunately, European exports to Russia are still going strong, albeit not at the same level as before.
