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ANALYSIS: US Pork Cold Storage Tightens Year-Over-Year Despite Seasonal Shifts
According to the USDA’s May Cold Storage report, total pork in frozen inventory declined to 450.9 million pounds, down 5.2 million pounds (- 1.1%) from April, signaling the lowest volumes recorded in the last 10 years. While month-over-month supplies are slightly lower, year-over-year inventories remain significantly tighter—down more than 31 million pounds (-6.6%) compared to May 2024—pointing to persistent supply-side constraints...
Gaiser's European Style Provisions Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Bologna Products
Gaiser's European Style Provisions Inc., a Union, N.J., establishment, is recalling approximately 143,416 pounds of ready-to-eat bologna due to misbranding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The various bologna products subject to recall contain meat or poultry source materials that are not declared on the product labels.
The ready-to-eat bologna items were produced between March 20 and June 20, 2025. The following products are subject to recall [view labels]...
The Retail Rundown: Independence Day Deals in Focus
As the Fourth of July holiday draws closer, competition for front-page ad space among proteins is heating up. Seafood is currently leading with a 29% share, followed by beef and pork, each capturing 24%. Chicken accounts for 18%, while turkey trails at 2.6%.
Burgers and hot dogs remain backyard barbecue mainstays. Several national grocers were promoting 78–84% lean ground beef under $5 per pound, with eye-catching specials as low as $2.27 on a discounted basis.
Over Father's Day weekend...
Poland, France Push Back Against at Mercosur Deal
Annie Genevard, France’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty and Czesław Siekierski, the Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, met in Paris on Wednesday. After the meeting, both showed a united front against the EU-Mercosur deal.
France and Poland have been two of the most vocal opponents to the deal signed in December, after around two decades of negotiations. They argue that the deal will not be beneficial for EU agriculture, despite its possible positive effects in other sectors.
“To put it plainly: we cannot sacrifice agriculture...
China’s New Hope Outlines Focus on Feed and Hog Farming
New Hope Liuhe reported profitability in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a renewed focus on its two core businesses: feed and hog farming. This marks the company’s first profitable quarter in three years. The company has undergone significant structural adjustments, with the pig farming division concentrating on improving breeding stock and reducing production costs. The feed division is targeting a return to competitiveness through stable and sustainable growth, the company said.
“We’ve largely emerged from the downturn, and the company is seeing an overall positive trajectory,”..
QDOBA Accelerates Growth with Opening of 800th Restaurant, Surpasses 500 New Development Commitments
On the heels of a record-breaking year of growth and franchise development, QDOBA, America's rapidly growing #2 restaurant brand in the Mexican fast-casual category, today announced that the company has opened its 800th restaurant in Miami, Florida. The new restaurant, located in North Miami Beach at 14583 Biscayne Blvd, marks a significant milestone for the company, which is on track to expand to 1,600 restaurants by 2032.
"QDOBA is the best-kept secret in the restaurant industry and one of the...
ANALYSIS: Tight Supplies and Seasonal Demand Drive the Pork Cutout Higher
The Expana Pork Cutout has risen 26.3% since mid-April and now sits 20.6% above year-ago levels, averaging $117/cwt so far for the week of June 16. This surpasses 2022 values for the same period and is trending toward the higher levels seen in 2021 and during the 2014 PEDv market in June.
Retail demand remains strong, with bacon, ribs, and chops prominently featured as consumers shift away from higher beef prices. Ribs continue to gain momentum ahead of the July Fourth holiday...
Japan, Brazil Negotiate Brazilian Beef Exports to Japan
Japanese auditors from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) visited Brazil over June 9-13, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) said. The visit is part of the risk analysis process conducted by the Japanese government, as part of the negotiations for opening the Japanese market to Brazilian beef.
Japanese officials visited the states of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraná. The visit ended with a meeting at the Superintendence of Agriculture and Livestock in Curitiba (SFA-PR) headquarters, where Brazil presented additional information on...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #14
Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #14."
This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...
The Retail Rundown: Grocers Set Stage for Final Summer Push
With Father’s Day in the rearview, grocers are setting the stage for the final big buying event of the summer: the Fourth of July.
The upcoming holiday marks the last major retail push before Labor Day and serves as a key buying window for proteins like beef ahead of the mid-summer lull. To keep product moving, grocers are expected to lean heavily on promotions and feature aggressive pricing in the coming weeks.
Post-Father’s Day, pork and chicken are poised to capture more...
Refreshed Website Offers New Biosecurity Resources
The Secure Beef Supply (SBS) website, www.securebeef.org, has been redesigned to better serve the growing number of users seeking new, updated and classic biosecurity resources.
“Producers can use these new Secure Beef Supply Plan resources to be proactive and customize their biosecurity strategies and plan before a disease outbreak – when time and resources are limited,” said NCBA’s Beef Cattle Specialist Veterinarian Julia Herman. “It’s a valuable addition to any risk management plan and should be developed in collaboration with veterinarians and other team members...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #13
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #13."
ANALYSIS: April Pork Volumes Reflect Global Tariff Strain
In April 2025, US pork exports fell sharply to 582,920,000 pounds a decline of 9.1% from March and 11.1% compared to last April, US-imposed “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs took effect: a baseline 10% duty began April 5, followed by significantly higher country‑specific tariffs on April 9, including a 54% effective rate on Chinese goods. These sweeping measures, and retaliatory levies from both China and Canada in the same period, disrupted established trade flows and significantly squeezed US pork volumes—especially to Canada and China...
Austria And Hungary Join France in Concerns over Mercosur Deal
Representatives from Austria and Hungary met with the French Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Annie Genevard. During the meeting, they “reiterated their strong concerns regarding the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries,” the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty said.
"Significant quantities of imported products produced under lower standards could lead to the exclusion of European agricultural products,” István Nagy, the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture said. This could, the minister added, weigh on prices and on the profitability of EU...
The Retail Rundown: Seafood Leads Father’s Day Protein Promotions; CPI Shows Mild Increase
For Father’s Day weekend, seafood leads retail protein promotions, accounting for 28% of total ad volume. Beef follows at 24.8%, with pork close behind at 23.6%. Chicken claims 19% of protein ads, while turkey makes up about 3%.
Egg features remain limited for now but are on track to gain ground next week amid improving retail demand. While egg consumption typically slows around this time of year due to reduced baking and fewer hot breakfasts, eggs are emerging as one of the few proteins seeing price relief at retail—standing out amid peak seasonal...
Powering Pork’s Future: New Three-Year Strategic Plan Charts the Path Forward
NPB’s Board of Directors has approved a new three-year strategic plan—part of a broader roadmap that will guide us through 2028. The strategic plan was presented to the board by the task force during the March 2025 Pork Industry Forum.
Kicking off in August 2024, the strategic planning process brought in insights from a wide range of producers and industry stakeholders. The result? A strategy that keeps producers’ priorities front and center—ensuring every hard-earned dollar...
Tyson Foods Launches New Hillshire® Snacking Dips and Spreads
Tyson Foods has announced the launch of Hillshire Snacking Dips and Spreads.
Hillshire Snacking, known for its gourmet snacks and creative flavor combinations, now offers consumers chef-curated snacking experiences, pairing premium pepperoni and rich cream cheese spreads with perfectly toasted rounds.
The new Hillshire Snacking Dips and Spreads include three unique and flavorful varieties:
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #12
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #12."
ANALYSIS: The Butts Are Back, Grilling Season Sparks Price Spike in May
May was marked by a robust rally in pork butt values, propelled by seasonal pulled pork demand, strong export pull, and tightening supply fundamentals. With grilling season well underway and the Fourth of July approaching, sentiments among some market participants remain bullish, particularly as processors and retailers continue to feature this item in promotional rotations and value-added offerings.
¼ trim bone-in butt values averaged $1.46/lb in May, reflecting a full steady to firm tone. This cut experienced a...
The Retail Rundown: Pork Deals Deliver Summer Savings
Pork promotions are gaining momentum, with value-priced cuts standing out against higher-priced beef and even some chicken items.
Bacon continues to steal the spotlight in the pork category, fueled by strong seasonal demand as consumers stock up on this summer staple. Over Memorial Day, discounted bacon averaged $6.30 per pound, up nearly 3% from last year. Wholesale belly prices have climbed 13% since early April, supported by tightening hog supplies and historically low cold storage stocks.
As grilling season gains momentum, demand for ribs...
Tyson Foods Introduces Wright Brand Premium Smoked Sausage Links
Tyson Foods announced the launch of a new product from its subsidiary, Wright Brand.
Wright Brand, established in 1922, is known for its premium, hand-cut, real wood-smoked bacon. The company became part of Tyson Foods in 2001.
Wright Brand Premium Sausage Links are scheduled to launch nationwide in fall 2025, with select retailers already stocking the product.
The lineup includes three varieties:
Volatility Defines 2025 in Food and Agriculture Markets – How do You Navigate It?
2025 has been a year marked by uncertainty in the food and agriculture sector. Volatility is the defining characteristic, with a cascade of global events disrupting pricing, availability and trade dynamics. From geopolitical tensions and severe weather events to animal epidemics and macroeconomic shifts, commodity markets have become increasingly difficult to navigate for buyers and sellers alike.
“The key challenge for businesses at the moment is having to navigate different markets going in different directions,” said Tom Bundgaard, VP of Price Forecasting...
Domino's Launches Weeklong Carryout Special
Domino’s is starting the month with a new promotion: from June 2–8, customers can carry out large two-topping pizzas for just $6.99 each.
This weeklong carryout special applies to any large pizza with two toppings, including specialty crusts like Hand Tossed, Crunchy Thin, and New York Style. For an additional $3, customers can upgrade to Domino’s new Parmesan Stuffed Crust pizza.
The promotion comes as Domino’s ramps up rewards and deals to boost consumer demand.
The company reported a 0.5% decline...
Secretary Rollins Secures Greater Market Access with Costa Rica for US Dairy Industry
Under U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins’ leadership, American dairy producers will have greater market access as Costa Rica has approved the first U.S. dairy facility to be registered under their new streamlined approval process. The Trump Administration continues to break down non-tariff barriers, and this latest action is the first of many wins ahead for American dairy producers.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is putting Farmers First. Securing greater market access for American dairy farmers is a much-needed win for the U.S. dairy industry and will give our...
EU Good Food Officially Launches in Korea
European culinary excellence arrives in Korea, embracing modern lifestyles and sustainable values
The “EU Good Food – Good Life” campaign, funded by the European Union, was officially launched in South Korea, marking the start of its public communication activities in the country. This three-year initiative (2024–2027), co-funded by the EU, aims to introduce and promote premium European agricultural and food products to Korean consumers and professionals across the food, hospitality, and retail sectors.
As modern consumers place increasing emphasis on health, food safety, sustainability, and transparent sourcing...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #11
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #11."
ANALYSIS: April Pork Cold Storage Remains Tight Despite Seasonal Increase in Volume
April’s USDA Cold Storage report showed total pork inventories at 455.8 million pounds, up 11.3% from March but still 8.7% below the same time last year. This marks the third-lowest April total since the series began in 1999, sitting just above April 2001 and 2004, and suggests that while volumes increased month-over-month, they remain historically low.
Hams contributed significantly to the overall build, with bone-in hams rising 26.9% and boneless hams up 53.2% from March. Total ham stocks reached 87.9 million pounds...
Firehouse Subs Accelerates Global Growth with Entry into Mexico
Firehouse Subs has signed a significant development agreement with Foodplay to open 100 restaurants across Mexico over the next five years, marking its latest strategic move in international expansion. This initiative is expected to generate hundreds of jobs locally while strengthening brand presence across Latin America.
"We believe Firehouse Subs has tremendous potential in Mexico's growing sandwich market," said Duncan Montero, LAC President of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), parent company of Firehouse Subs. "We're excited to bring Firehouse premium subs, heartfelt service...
The Retail Rundown: Father’s Day Fires Up Demand for Premium Cuts
Meat sales over Memorial Day weekend appeared to underperform in some regions this year, as cool weather across the Midwest curbed outdoor grilling activity.
Retailers are now setting their sights on the next major grilling event, Father’s Day, paired with hopes for improved weather. Falling on June 15th this year, the event presents another opportunity to drive protein consumption.
This week’s retail buying opportunities are led by seafood, which accounts for 28.2% of protein ads. Beef has 26.4%, trailed by pork at 23.2%, chicken at 18%, and turkey with...
ANALYSIS: Slight Dip in Total Red Meat Output Despite Steady Pork Gains in April
The USDA’s latest Monthly Livestock Slaughter report reveals that US commercial red meat production in April 2025 totaled 4.60 billion pounds, reflecting a modest 1% decline from the 4.64 billion pounds reported in April 2024.
Cumulative red meat production from January through April reached 18.1 billion pounds, also down 1% year-over-year. Within the broader protein mix, beef production slipped 1%, veal saw a sharp 40% decrease, and pork edged 1% lower. However, lamb and mutton production bucked the trend...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #10
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #10."
ANALYSIS: Pork Cutout Strengthens Ahead of Memorial Day
The Expana pork cutout value continued its gradual upward trajectory, a trend that began in mid-April, posting a 6% gain through Friday’s close. This includes a 3% increase over the past week alone, driven primarily by strength in the ham, picnic, and butt primals, as seasonal demand intensifies heading into the heart of grilling season. Year-to-date slaughter rates are running 1.2% below year-ago levels and cold storage inventories are sitting at record lows, both supporting the cutout value. The approach of the Memorial Day holiday...
The Retail Rundown: Seafood Leads Memorial Day Retail Ads; Weather Poses Challenges
Seafood leads retail protein promotions heading into Memorial Day weekend, accounting for 28.7% of total featured protein ad volume. Pork follows at 25.9%, with beef at 21.3% and chicken at 19.3%.
Egg feature volume is virtually absent amid sluggish retail demand. Warmer weather is prompting a shift toward fruit and cereal for breakfast, while elevated, though easing, shelf prices continue to dampen consumer interest, according to Expana.
Within the seafood category, fresh and frozen fillets represent the largest share of advertised items at nearly 28%. Raw shrimp...
Applebee’s Reintroduces “All You Can Eat” to Drive Seasonal Traffic
Applebee’s has reintroduced its popular “All You Can Eat” promotion, an LTO strategy the brand consistently deploys during high-traffic periods to drive guest visits.
This season’s lineup features three proven guest favorites and legacy menu items: Chicken Tenders, Riblets, and Double Crunch Shrimp—offering broad consumer appeal.
Meat Institute and AMSA Offer a Training Resource to Support New Swine Inspection System
The Meat Institute, in collaboration with the American Meat Science Association (AMSA), has assembled a practical training guide to support effective implementation of the USDA’s New Swine Inspection System (NSIS). This new resource is designed to enhance in-plant training and provide consistent, science-based guidance—particularly for sorting decisions.
Created in direct response to feedback from establishments and industry partners, the guide features real-world examples, clear explanations, and condition-specific imagery to improve accuracy and confidence in decision-making...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #9
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #9."
Brazil’s Meatpacker Marfrig Seeks BRF Acquisition
Marfrig has announced its agreement to buy all remaining shares of Brazilian firm BRF to turn the other Brazilian firm it into a subsidiary.
Marfrig forecasts R$24 million (USD$4.7 million) in costs associated with the merger, but R$485 million per year in new revenue and cost synergies, largely though cross-selling and logistics optimisation after the acquisition.
Marfrig already owns 50.49% of the Brazilian firn. It acquired around a quarter of BRF's shares in 2021.
The acquisition would increase Marfrig’s capacity in poultry, pork, and processed foods...
JBS Q1 2025 Net Profit Up 50% on Pork, Poultry Gains
Brazilian meat company JBS reported a 50.5% increase in net profit in the first quarter of 2025 reaching 2.92 billion reais ($521 million). Revenue rose 8.5% to $19.5 billion.
The company said strong results in its pork and poultry operations offset continued weakness in North American beef. Seara, its Brazil-based unit, reported an EBITDA margin of 19.8%, while the North American beef business posted a negative 1.6% EBITDA margin, despite net sales up by 16%.
Beef margins were pressured by record cattle...
The Retail Rundown: Pre-Grilling Season Retail Insights
With Memorial Day fast approaching, retailers are ramping up promotions to jumpstart the unofficial kickoff to the summer grilling season—a crucial window for driving foot traffic and boosting meat department sales.
The next two weeks are key, as market participants closely watch consumer demand ahead of what is typically one of the busiest periods for beef sales. Protein items are being prominently showcased alongside vibrant seasonal produce, enhancing the appeal of in-store displays.
Seafood leads the protein feature mix this week, accounting for nearly 30% of all advertised protein items...
China, UK Trade Talks Pose Positive Opportunities for US Animal Food Industry
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is pleased to see a cooling of U.S. tariffs on and retaliatory tariffs from China and a proposed trade agreement with the United Kingdom coming to fruition, given discussions late last week and over the weekend between the U.S. and respective countries’ trade officials. Both China and the United Kingdom present valuable opportunities for U.S. animal food manufacturers, which produce some of the safest, highest quality and innovative feed, feed ingredients and pet food globally...
ANALYSIS: US Pork Exports Rebound in March 2025 Amid Trade Headwinds and Tariff Uncertainty
In March 2025, US pork exports demonstrated a series of increases across various regions, with total exports reaching 641,018.50 K lbs—a 13.45% month-over-month (MoM) increase and a 3.06% year-over-year (YoY) gain compared to March 2024. This trend indicated short-term demand, though it comes amid notable trade headwinds.
The industry remained on edge over the looming threat of reciprocal tariffs, scheduled to take effect in early April after being delayed by 30 days to allow additional time for negotiations...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #8
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #8."
49th Executive Conference Highlights Resilience and Future Outlook of Animal Protein Sector
This year’s Executive Conference held in Las Vegas from May 5–7 for senior leaders in the animal protein sector, was an informative show of the industry’s and what we can expect from the protein sector in the coming years.
“We feed the ever-growing needs of the entire population,” said Russ Whitman, Expana’s Director of Market Reporting, in his opening remarks.
Despite challenges related to animal health, regulatory shifts, and geopolitical tensions, the industry has demonstrated remarkable perseverance.
The Retail Rundown: Grocers Take on Foodservice for a Slice of Mother’s Day Spending
Grocers are gearing up to win a slice of Mother’s Day sales, which are traditionally dominated by restaurants and dining out. While foodservice still captures the lion’s share of spending, supermarkets are making strategic plays to compete for consumers' dollars.
According to the National Retail Federation, Mother’s Day spending is projected to hit $34.1 billion this year—up from $33.5 billion in 2024 and just shy of the 2023 record of $35.7 billion. About 84% of US adults are expected to celebrate, spending an average of $259.04 on gifts and festivities...
ANALYSIS: Belly Primal Drives Resurgent Pork Carcass Value in April
According to the Urner Barry by Expana Pork Carcass Cutout Value Report, recent increases in carcass values have mitigated losses incurred since the beginning of April. Currently, weekly carcass values are holding steady at approximately year-over-year levels, exceeding the three-year average by 2.2%. April itself witnessed a modest rebound in overall values following a 3.1% decline during the first two weeks. While this initial drop was significant, it represented a continuation of a gradual downward trend that began in...
Retail Program Engages Consumers, Differentiates US Pork Quality in Colombia
As competition intensifies in the region, USMEF ramps up a retail tasting program designed to differentiate U.S. pork and increase consumer trial.
A USMEF program for U.S. pork is generating growing interest among Colombian retailers, having expanded to 18 retail outlets of two supermarket chains in five major markets ‒ Medellin, Bogota, Cartagena, Cali and Barranquilla.
USMEF’s tasting program is an integrated initiative that helps retailers improve inventory management and merchandising techniques while providing critical information to consumers about handling and defrosting frozen U.S. pork. Overall, the tasting program drives home...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #7
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #7."
The Retail Rundown: Grocers Turn Up the Heat
Grocers are turning up the heat in this week’s circulars, leaning into classic summer grilling staples—ribs, burgers, and barbecue fixings—signaling early excitement for the season even with Memorial Day still a few weeks away.
Seafood tops this week’s retail protein promotions, claiming roughly 28% of total ad space. Beef follows with 24.7%, trailed by pork at 23.1% and chicken at 20.2%. Turkey ads were slashed by half compared to last week, now accounting for just 3% of circular space.
Retailers are also highlighting festive favorites ahead of Cinco de Mayo. Ground beef in the 78–84% lean range averaged $4.89 per...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #6
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #6."
Exclusive International Trade Centre Interview: Implications of Trump’s Tariff Regime
Julia Spies is the Chief of Trade and Market Intelligence for the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Switzerland. Spies and team analyze trade information and publish findings about market-specific trade intelligence on multiple online platforms, like Tradebriefs.intracen.org.
Recent shifts in the world of trade, including the latest round of United States tariffs and trade measures by other countries, has kept Spies and company busy, to say the least.
However, ITC members have watched trade measures, and in particular their impact on developing countries, long before these recent changes...
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