Although May exports of US pork were higher year-over-year, volumes were significantly diminished by Mexico’s restrictions on pork offal items, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation.
May beef exports were less than last year’s volume but edged higher in value.
PORK EXPORTS UP
May pork exports totaled 245,874 tonnes, up 21,712 tonnes, or 9.69%, from 224,162 tonnes a year ago, with value up $1.084 million, or 0.17%, to $701.007 million from $646.455 million.
But exports in May 2025 were unusually low because of heightened trade tensions with China, which temporarily pushed China’s tariff rate on US pork as high as 172%, the USMEF said. This impasse heavily affected exports of pork variety meat, which totaled just over 30,000 tonnes in May 2025.
While pork variety meat exports exceeded 40,000 tonnes in May 2026, this easily was the lowest total of the year as January-April shipments averaged nearly 49,000 tonnes, the USMEF said. May variety meat exports to Mexico were just 3,157 tonnes, down from a year ago, because of restrictions imposed after the April 30 detection of pseudorabies virus antibodies in five boars in Iowa.
May bright spots for US pork included the largest shipments to Japan since 2021, an outstanding performance from Colombia and strong growth in Central America, the USMEF said. Export value per head slaughtered topped $71.
For January through May, pork and pork variety meat exports totaled 1.282 million tonnes, up 66,000 tonnes, or 5.43%, from 1.216 million a year ago, while value was up $162,000, or 4.72%, to $3.593 billion from $3.431 billion. In volume and value, pork exports were less than 1% off the record pace established in 2024, the USMEF said.
BEEF EXPORT VOLUME DOWN, VALUE UP
May beef exports totaled 91,925 tonnes, down 5,341 tonnes, or 5.49%, from 97,266 tonnes a year ago. But value increased $19.330 million, or 2.42%, to $818.068 million from $798.738 million, bolstered by value increases in Taiwan, Japan, the ASEAN region, Central and South America and Egypt, the USMEF said.
Export value per head of fed slaughter soared to $468 in May, the highest in nearly four years, the USMEF said. Despite China’s mid-May renewal of expired US beef plant registrations, May exports to China remained minimal as technical obstacles were not resolved.
For January through May, beef exports were 51,230 tonnes, or 10.1%, less than last year’s pace at 457,063 tonnes from 508,293 tonnes, while value fell $204 million, or 4.92%, to $3.946 billion from $4.150 billion. But when excluding China from these results, January-May beef exports were down less than 1% in volume and were 6% higher in value, the USMEF said.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $248.66 per cwt to $256.91, compared with last week’s range of $254.99 to $258.00 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $394.70 per cwt to $400.86, compared with $400.75 to $407.21.
The USDA choice cutout Tuesday was down $1.66 per cwt at $373.95 while select was off $0.76 at $364.41. The choice/select spread narrowed to $9.54, from $10.44 with 74 loads of fabricated product and 16 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef as $457.46 per cwt, and 50% beef was $164.91.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.20 to $1.40 a bushel over the Sep corn contract, which settled at $4.38 1/2 a bushel, down $0.02 1/2.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Monday was $370.32 per cwt, down $2.20. This compares with Tuesday’s Aug contract settlement of $348.80, down $5.55.