February exports of US pork were slightly higher year-over-year, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation.
While beef exports trended lower, in large part because of continued lack of access to China, shipments of beef variety meat posted another strong increase.
PER-HEAD PORK EXPORT VALUE ROBUST
February was a robust month for per-head export value, with pork exports equating to more than $67 per head slaughtered and beef exports reaching nearly $423 per head of fed slaughter, the USMEF said in a release.
February pork exports totaled 242,511 tonnes, up 1,332, or 0.55%, from 241,179 tonnes a year ago, with export value also edging $7.298 million, or 1.09%, higher to $678.787 million from $671.489 million.
For the year to date, pork exports totaled 493,372 tonnes, up 8,228, or 1.70%, from 485,144 tonnes a year ago, with value at $1.371 million, up $31,000, or 2.31%, from $1.340 million and was slightly ahead of the record pace set in 2024.
While leading market Mexico posted another excellent performance in February, shipments to Japan increased significantly from last year’s low total, the USMEF said. Exports also trended higher year-over-year to South Korea, Central America, the Dominican Republic and Taiwan.
BEEF EXPORTS SUFFER
February beef exports totaled 85,066 tonnes, down 13,132 tonnes, or 13.4%, year-over-year from 98,198 tonnes, while value fell $77.316 million, or 9.66%, to $722.726 million from $800.042 million, the USMEF said. Much of this gap was because of China’s lockout of US beef, although February shipments also were less than last year to Korea, Japan and Canada.
Exports increased year-over-year to Mexico, Taiwan, the Caribbean and South America, while demand was steady in the Middle East and Central America, the USMEF said. Excluding China, February exports were 4% higher in value and just 1% less than last year’s volume.
Through the first two months of 2026, beef and beef variety meat exports, at 177,624 tonnes, were 23,414 tonnes, or 11.6%, below last year’s pace of 201,038 tonnes in volume and $102,000, or 6.36%, lower in value at $1.503 billion from $1.605 million. The USMEF said, excluding China from these results, exports increased 2% to 175,915 tonnes, while value was 10% higher at $1.49 billion.
The February totals included 24,081 tonnes of beef variety meat, up from 21,463 tonnes a year ago, while the value of these shipments soared to $106.024 million from $75.797 million a year ago, the USMEF said. January-February exports of beef variety meat increased 9% from a year ago to 51,592 tonnes from 47,301 tonnes, while export value climbed 43% to $232.039 million from $162,228 million.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $236.29 per cwt to $247.20, compared with last week’s range of $234.90 to $243.63 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $373.20 per cwt to $388.53, compared with $370.42 to $377.81.
The USDA choice cutout Wednesday was down $3.08 per cwt at $379.66 while select was down $4.06 at $382.27. The choice/select spread remained inverted at minus $2.61 from minus 3.59 with 98 loads of fabricated product and 24 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef as $457.13 per cwt, and 50% beef was $176.41
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $0.90 to $1.05 a bushel over the May corn contract, which settled at $4.47 1/4, down $0.01 3/4.
No live cattle contracts were tendered for delivery Wednesday.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Tuesday was $364.55 per cwt, down $0.04. This compares with Wednesday’s Apr contract settlement of $370.67, up $1.77.