Exports of US pork remained relatively strong in November but were below the large total reported in November 2024, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation.
Beef exports were significantly lower year-over-year, in large part because of the ongoing lockout by China, the USMEF said in a release of the statistics.
PORK EXPORTS DOWN
Exports of US pork totaled 254,085 tonnes in November, down 18,056, or 6.63%, from 272,141 tonnes a year ago but the third largest of 2025, the USMEF said. Exports were valued at $720.810 million, down $62.164 million, or 7.94%, year-over-year from $782.974 million but also the third highest of 2025.
November exports increased year-over-year to Mexico, South Korea and the Dominican Republic and were record-large to Guatemala, but these results were offset by lower shipments to China, Japan, Canada and Colombia, the USMEF said.
For January through November, pork exports totaled 2.683 million tonnes, down 77,000, or 2.79%, from 2024’s record pace of 2.760 million, while value fell $208 million, or 2.65%, to $7.647 billion from $7.855 billion, the USMEF said.
With most of that decline being from lower variety meat shipments to China, where US pork faces retaliatory duties, January-November exports of pork muscle cuts were just 1% less than 2024’s record pace in both volume (2.19 million tonnes) and value ($6.57 billion), the USMEF said.
“The pork export numbers continue to be impressive, with broad-based growth mostly offsetting the obstacles in China,” said Dan Halstrom, USMEF president, in the release. “It was especially gratifying to see per-head export value topping $70 in November, which is excellent news for US producers and for the entire pork supply chain.”
BEEF EXPORTS CONTINUE STRUGGLE
Following an encouraging rebound in October, November beef exports took a step back, falling 21,149 tonnes, or 19.4%, from 109,288 tonnes a year ago to 88,139 tonnes, the USMEF said. Export value was down $135.936 million, or 15.6%, to $736.729 million from $872.665 million.
The decline was driven primarily by China, where exports remained minimal thanks to China’s failure to renew registrations for US beef plants and other market-closing factors, the USMEF said. But beef exports also trended lower year-over-year to South Korea, Mexico, Canada and Taiwan.
November exports increased year-over-year to Indonesia, Chile, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Colombia, and were fairly steady to Japan, the USMEF said.
For January through November, beef exports totaled 1.038 million tonnes, down 137,000 tonnes, or 11.7%, from 1.175 million in the same period of 2024, the USMEF said. Export value for the period was $8.524 billion, down $1.031 billion, or 10.8%, from $9.557 billion. But when excluding China from these results, exports were down year-over-year in volume and were just a little lower in value.
“With each day US beef is locked out of the world’s largest import market, our industry misses out on millions of dollars and our competitors reap the benefits,” Halstrom said in the release. “It’s also frustrating that this impasse overshadows the fact that global demand for US beef remains resilient, even in the face of tight supplies.”
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $240.37 per cwt to $240.64, compared with last week’s range of $233.00 to $240.00 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $373.56 per cwt to $375.49, compared with $365.91 to $371.92.
The USDA choice cutout Monday was up $2.65 per cwt at $368.21 while select was up $2.97 at $364.91. The choice/select spread narrowed to $3.30 from $3.62 with 42 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 $414.58 per cwt, and 50% beef was $154.19.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were up $0.02 to $0.03 at $0.98 to $1.12 a bushel over the Mar corn contract, which settled at $4.25 3/4, down $0.02 1/2.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Friday was $374.41 per cwt, up $3.72. This compares with Monday’s Mar contract settlement of $366.35, up $6.07.