ANALYSIS: Record Lows and a Partial Recovery - US Frozen Pork Cold Storage Deficit Persists

US frozen pork cold storage entered 2026 on historically precarious footing, with December 2025 ending inventories confirmed as the lowest on record in the series dating back to 1999, approximately 21% below the long-term December average. January 2026 opened at 403.8 million pounds, 22% below the 10-year January average, before inventories continued to erode throughout the first quarter. February extended the deficit to its widest point at 25.9% below the 10-year benchmark, while March bottomed out at 400.9 million...

ANALYSIS: Pork Cold Storage Inventories Remain Constrained Despite Monthly Increase

The most recent USDA Cold Storage report indicated that while April 2026 pork inventories increased to 435.8 million lbs, up 8.7% from March, frozen pork stocks remain at the lowest April level observed over the past decade. Total inventories are approximately 4.5% below April 2025 levels and nearly 150-200 million lbs below many of the peak spring inventory levels recorded between 2016 and 2020.

Viewed within a historical context, the recent monthly increase...

ANALYSIS: US Pork Belly 13/15 Prices Ease From 2025 Highs as Seasonal Demand Window Opens

US pork belly prices have continued to ease since late March 2026, with the derind belly 13/15 lb currently trading near $1.40/lb. This is down more than 20% from late-March levels and about 13% below the five-year May average of $1.61/lb. The decline has mainly been driven by increased spot belly availability, while downstream demand...

GCCA Joins Forces with Food Industry FSMA 204 Collaboration to Enhance Food Safety Awareness

The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) has joined the Food Industry FSMA 204 Collaboration to increase awareness of the United States (US)  Food And Drug Administration's (FDA's) Food Traceability Rule, a key part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) focused on improving food tracking systems.

FSMA Rule 204 requires thorough tracking of high-risk foods on the FDA's Food Traceability List (FTL) to enhance outbreak response and supply chain transparency. With supply chains growing complex, the cold chain sector plays a vital role in ensuring not...

ANALYSIS: January Chicken Cold Storage Highlights Robust Demand Across Major Categories

Cold storage data for January reveals a generally robust call for chicken that directly correlates with the market conditions observed throughout the month. The overall picture shows inventory levels declining month over month (MOM) across all major categories, with total chicken stocks down 3.7% from December and 1.2% below year-ago levels.

Whole bird inventories present the most notable anomaly, showing a substantial 15.1% year over year (YOY) increase. Still, there was a 3.3% MOM decrease which contrasts with the five-year average trend of a 5.6% MOM increase from December to January in frozen holdings of whole birds. Last year's whole bird...

The Retail Rundown: Cheaper Turkeys Hit Shelves Despite Wholesale Price Surge

This Thanksgiving, holiday shoppers might spot some relief: retail turkey prices have eased, even as wholesale values climb toward near-record highs.

Ongoing challenges, such as persistent bird flu outbreaks and relatively low hatch rates, have limited production all year, leaving supplies exceptionally thin ahead of the holiday. 

While retailers secure turkeys well in advance to build cold-storage inventories, frozen whole-bird stocks in 2025 remain near seasonal record lows, leaving little supply cushion...

Vertical Cold Storage's Strategic Expansion with First Customs Bonded Warehouse

In today's global trade environment, customs bonded warehousing has become increasingly appealing to businesses seeking financial flexibility.

Tariffs can significantly inflate costs, but by deferring duties until products are sold in the US market or re-exported, companies can optimize cash flow and gain strategic operational advantages.

Vertical Cold Storage, a leader in cold storage and logistics for the food and beverage industry, is marking an achievement with the full licensing of its first customs bonded warehouse.

The company strategically chose to expand at its...