Pork exports remain below year ago

April pork exports were down from the large volume reported a year ago due to a sharp decline in China’s demand for imported pork. “The COVID lockdowns (in China) dampened demand even further by limiting consumer spending and slowing activity in the wholesale market and the meat processing sector,” said U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “We do expect exports to China to regain some momentum in the fourth quarter of this year – certainly not back to the peak volumes of 2020 but improving over current levels.” Shipments to Mexico remain on a record pace and exports to Japan and several Latin American markets trended higher in April. Pork exports to the Dominican Republic were already gaining strength before African swine fever (ASF) was confirmed in July 2021, and ASF’s impact on domestic production has accelerated this trend.