Total pork exports in May reached 224,162 metric tons (mt), down 11% compared to the same month last year, while the export value fell 10% to $646.5 million. These were the lowest monthly totals since September 2023.
For the first five months of 2025, total pork exports were down 6% in volume (1.22 million mt) and 5% in value ($3.43 billion) compared to the record-setting pace in 2024.
The May export value averaged $62.18 per head slaughtered, an 8% decrease from May 2024. Exports to China contributed less than $2 per head, compared to about $8.50 a year earlier. The January–May average value was $64.32 per head, down 3% from the same period last year.
In May, exports accounted for 27.8% of total U.S. pork production, down from 30.7% a year earlier. The share of muscle cuts exported also declined, from 26.5% to 25.9%. From January to May, exports represented 29.3% of total production (down from 30.7%) and 26% of muscle cut production (down 0.5 percentage points).
Regional highlights for May pork exports:
- Mexico: Remains the top destination for U.S. pork, with exports increasing 7% year-over-year to 97,697 mt. Demand continues to grow despite increasing market competition. However, U.S. pork could become a target for retaliatory tariffs if Mexico responds to a pending 21% antidumping duty on its tomatoes, set to take effect July 14.
- Central America: Strong growth in Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica pushed May exports up 26% to 14,764 mt, with the value also increasing 26% to $47.7 million.
- Colombia: Exports rose 31% to 12,627 mt—the fifth-largest monthly volume on record. Export value increased 32% to just over $35 million. It was the third consecutive month with volumes exceeding 12,000 mt.
- China: Exports plummeted 82% to just 6,720 mt, with value down 77% to $20.7 million. From January to May, exports to China declined 22% in volume and 18% in value ($363 million). A rebound is unlikely until tariff levels stabilize and exporters regain long-term confidence in the Chinese market.
- Caribbean: Exports increased 6% to 11,263 mt, valued at $32.3 million (+12%). Shipments to Cuba tripled year-over-year to a record 1,760 mt, valued at just over $5 million (+261%). Exports to the Dominican Republic also rose slightly in both volume (7,845 mt) and value ($21.6 million).
- Japan: After a slow start to the year, exports recovered modestly. May shipments totaled 30,104 mt, slightly above last year’s level, though value dropped 4% to $117 million.
- South Korea: Exports fell 10% to 20,323 mt, with value down 17% to $65.6 million. Year-to-date exports dropped 13% to 102,491 mt, and value was down 16% to $331.4 million. Overall import levels in Korea remain below 2024 highs, partly due to earlier depreciation of the won, which has recently rebounded following political stabilization.
Overall Outlook
U.S. pork export performance in May was hampered by reduced demand from China, which significantly impacted overall figures. However, strong results in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia helped offset the losses. Trade uncertainty, especially tariff-related, remains a key risk for U.S. pork exporters in the coming months.
pig333.com