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ANALYSIS: January Chicken Exports Off to a Strong Start
Although it may not be immediately evident based solely on the data, chicken export movement kicked off the year with quite a bang. Despite a 3.4%, or 21.6 million pound, year-over-year (YoY) reduction in total outward tonnage, January’s closing tally of 608.7 million pounds, was enough to position seasonal export figures at the third highest level realized in three decades.
Much like the annual comparisons, the month-over-month (MoM) figures also brought with them a modest reduction of 3.4%, or 21.6 million pounds...
ANALYSIS: South American Beef Exporters Diversifying Beyond China In 2024
As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2024, a subtle yet discernible trend is emerging among major South American beef exporters, particularly Brazil and Uruguay. These countries are showing a tendency towards exploring attractive markets for their beef exports. This strategy doesn't signify a major shift away from China, remaining as the world's largest beef consumer, but rather an adaptive response to diversify their export destinations.
This trend becomes evident when analyzing the beef export data up to February 2024 (frozen, fresh or chilled)...
Another 38 Brazilian Slaughterhouses Can Export Meat to China
Number of license issuances in a single advertisement is the highest ever recorded in history
In the year in which Brazil celebrates 50 years of diplomatic relations with China, another 38 Brazilian meat processing plants were authorized to sell meat to the Asian country, according to a statement from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Map) this Tuesday ( 12) .
38 licenses were granted, including eight chicken slaughterhouses, 24 cattle slaughterhouses, a beef thermoprocessing establishment and five...
Rapid Start for 2024 Pork Exports; Beef Export Value Above Year-Ago
U.S. pork exports raced to a great start in 2024, according to January data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. While January beef exports were slightly below last year’s volume, export value trended significantly higher. Lamb exports were also strong in January, posting the highest value in more than four years.
Although January pork exports were led by another powerful performance in leading market Mexico, U.S. pork continued to make gains in a wide range of Western Hemisphere and Asia-Pacific destinations...
Import Cargo Returning to Normal After Red Sea Disruptions
With the supply chain adjusting to ongoing Houthi rebel attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, inbound cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports remains on track to show year-over-year increases through the first half of 2024, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
“Retailers continue to work with their partners to mitigate the impact of disruptions from the Red Sea and Panama Canal restrictions,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said...
ANALYSIS: Australia’s Beef Exports Continued to Rise Behind Higher Output, Strong Demand
Australia’s beef/veal exports for February continued to rise, nearing levels last seen in Feb 19, up 24% m-o-m or 18,249 mt to 93,834 mt, driven by higher country output and robust demand from Asia and the US, data from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (D.A.F.F) indicated.
The ongoing upward trajectory since the start of the year is also attributed to increased processing intensity, eased export restrictions with China, and rising cattle slaughter rates.
Notably, exports to Japan reached a 52-week high at 23,794 mt...
JBS Australia to Double Production Capacity at Dinmore Beef Facility
JBS Australia recently started a second shift at its Dinmore beef processing facility in Queensland. The company hired 300 additional staff for the expansion.
According to JBS Australia, a gradual ramp-up of production can be expected over the next 4-5 months, resulting in the site doubling its daily processing capacity.
According to JBS Australia, JBS Dinmore is the southern hemisphere’s largest beef processing plant. It accounted for approximately 10% of Australia’s total beef processing capacity when the company announced that it would invest...
USDA Under Secretary Alexis Taylor to Lead Historic Native Nations Agribusiness Trade Mission
U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor will lead an historic agribusiness trade mission to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from June 17-20, 2024. This USDA mission will be the first of its kind, specifically highlighting products made and produced by tribal agribusinesses.
USDA is excited the trade mission will highlight the reinvigoration of historic agricultural trade networks amongst Native Nations across the United States and Canada. Participants will be tribal producers with the Made/Produced by American Indians...
CMC, COMECARNE & Meat Institute Sign Joint Statement of Coordination
To deepen meat industry coordination and government collaboration in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the Canadian Meat Council (CMC), Consejo Mexicano de la Carne (COMECARNE), and the Meat Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formalizes the three associations’ ongoing work to improve trade, reduce regulatory barriers and enhance information exchange within North America. The organizations also finalized a Joint Statement of Coordination that emphasizes their collective commitment to addressing foreign animal diseases, sustainability and non-tariff trade barriers.
The MOU and Joint Statement were shared during COMECARNE’s...
ANALYSIS: A Closer Look at Formula vs. Negotiated Sales in the Boneless Beef Segment
In the domestic boneless beef sector, it is widely acknowledged that a significant volume of trade is conducted through formula pricing agreements. This analysis delves into this phenomenon, utilizing the volume reported by the USDA of fresh 50% lean trim as an example.
The chart above illustrates that, for the week ending 2/16/2024, 86.57% of the fresh 50% lean trim traded was priced through formulated agreements. To break this down, out of the total trade volume of 19.28M lbs.,16.69M lbs...
ANALYSIS: December Chicken Export Volume Reaches New Seasonal Altitude
Judging by the year-end numbers, chicken export movement concluded 2023 under a relatively robust backdrop, especially when considering the ongoing global trade complications related to HPAI. At 645.2 million pounds, total outbound tonnage during December not only surpassed the previous year by 7.4%, or 66.1 million pounds, but also hit a record seasonal high.
The cumulative data, however, tells a slightly different story of how the year played out. Between January and December, total export volume retreated by 4.2% when compared with the previous year...
Cleveland-Cliffs to Idle Weirton Tinplate Facility Following Unfavorable ITC Ruling
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. announced today that it will be indefinitely idling its tinplate production plant located in Weirton, West Virginia in April 2024. The need to idle the Weirton plant is a direct result of the unanimous decision issued by all four members of the International Trade Commission (ITC) negating the implementation of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on tin mill products calculated by the Department of Commerce. A WARN notice is being issued today to approximately 900 impacted employees...
ANALYSIS: December Turkey Exports Leave Room For Interpretation
While Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been slow to relinquish its ugly grasp on the turkey industry, December’s ending export figures didn’t deviate too far from the established seasonal course.
As 2023 came to a close, total outbound volume hit 42.1 million pounds. So what does this mean for market participants? Sentiment is highly dependent on one’s vantage point. On one hand, December’s export tally marks a significant 43.1% advance when compared to the year prior. On the opposite hand, it is important to bear in mind that 2022’s sweeping...
ANALYSIS: January's Shifting Trends in Brazilian Beef Export Dynamics
The recently released Brazilian export data for January unveiled significant shifts in the beef market, signaling a slightly broader diversification of Brazilian beef export destinations early this year.
While China remains the dominant player, its share saw a slight decline, as frozen boneless beef exports to China dropped by 11.8% from the same time of last year, amounting to a massive volume of 96,329 metric tons (MT) compared to 98,857 MT for the previous January, aligned with a 9.49% reduction in the average price per MT. This decline in prices reflects...
U.S. Pork Export Value Sets Annual Record; Strong Finish for Beef Exports
Led by a record-shattering performance in Mexico and broad-based growth in other markets, U.S. pork exports set a value record in 2023, according to year-end data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). While 2023 beef exports were below the record totals posted the previous year, December exports were the largest since August and December export value increased 10% year-over-year.
December pork exports climbed nearly 10% from a year ago to 268,399 metric tons...
Canada Concerned That VCOOL Rule and Prop 12 Could Disrupt Supply Chains
Canadian Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay met with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Washington D.C. last month to discuss strengthening agricultural ties between the two countries.
During their meeting, Minister MacAulay raised proposed changes in voluntary country-of-origin labeling (VCOOL) regulations for meat and livestock. These regulations along with California's Proposition 12 could restrict trade and disrupt supply chains, said the Minister.
The USDA proposed a rule last March that allows the voluntary “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” label claim to be used on...
UK Pork Producers Explore Export Opportunities to CA Amid Prop 12 Enforcement
British meat producers are exploring export opportunities to California after Proposition 12 went into full enforcement on January 1, 2024.
Proposition 12 originated as a ballot initiative in 2018 and was upheld by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision on May 11, 2023. The Californian law prohibits the sale of meat and eggs in the state that were raised under certain farming conditions.
Under the law, breeding pigs must have a minimum of 24 square feet of usable floor space per animal. Proposition 12 applies to...
U.S. Pork and Beef Nutrition Showcased at Ironman Event in Colombia
USMEF partnered with Colombian importers to promote U.S. pork and beef nutrition and product availability during an athletic competition in Cartagena. When promoting the health and nutritional benefits of high-quality U.S. pork and beef in Latin America, USMEF sometimes establishes a high-profile U.S. industry presence at targeted events in key markets. One recent event was in Colombia, where an Ironman competition brought health and nutrition-conscious athletes and families together for three days in Cartagena.
With an audience focused on nutrition and athletic performance, USMEF put...
China to Encourage Hog Farmers to Reduce Capacity After Price Slump
China will "guide" farmers to reduce hog production capacity as it steps up regulation of the industry, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday, after an aggressive expansion drive led to an oversupply of pigs and heavy losses.
Big agribusinesses in the world's top pork producer have modernised farms and expanded pig herds so rapidly in recent years that a downturn in demand led to plummeting hog prices, mounting losses, and rising debt last year.
Farmers lost an average of 76 yuan ($10.60) per hog in 2023...
Live Poultry Trading Banned for 2024 in Shanghai, China
On 26 December, with the support of the local government, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (SMCC) and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (SMCAR) announced a year-long ban on live poultry trading ‘‘to prevent and control urban public health risks,’’ according to an official statement.
Effective from 1 January 2024, live poultry trading is suspended at the city’s designated wholesale and retail markets. Live poultry from other provinces and cities may only enter the city to be transported to official slaughterhouses...
Russian Pork Exports to China Gear Up Following Lifted Bans and Bilateral Protocol
In addition to Beijing scrapping regional restrictions for some Russian farm exports, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision announced its plans to commence pork exports to China in January 2024. This follows a bilateral inspection and quarantine protocol in December 2023, which was signed during the 28th conference between the heads of government of China and Russia.
On 25 December 2023, Abi, a leading Russian processed meat producer, announced the initiation of product exports to China, marking the beginning of this new trade development...
ANALYSIS: Turkey Exports Start Q4 on a High Note
While recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in various states and counties have posed challenges to the international footprint of the turkey industry, export performance through the end of October demonstrated noteworthy resilience.
During this period, the total outbound movement reached 52.9 million pounds. This marks the highest seasonal level observed since 2020 and also reflects a 5.8% increase when compared to September. With that being said, it is worth noting that October's cumulative movement still lagged approximately 18 percentage...
U.S. Lamb Showcase Highlights Quality and Market Opportunities in Mexico
USMEF brought suppliers and buyers together for a daylong event focused on U.S. lamb, including market insights and product opportunities in Mexico.
Mexico’s economy is in the midst of a broad-based economic expansion, bringing heightened demand for high-quality protein and new developments in the foodservice sector. USMEF believes the conditions in Mexico are favorable for U.S. lamb.
“At USMEF, we are seeing new opportunities in foodservice for U.S. lamb,” said Gerardo Rodriguez, USMEF’s director in Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic...
Another Record Month for Pork Exports to Mexico; Beef Exports Show Modest Rebound
U.S. pork exports posted another strong performance in October, led by record-large shipments to Mexico and broad-based growth elsewhere, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). October beef exports remained well below last year’s large totals but improved from September, led by stronger demand in Mexico and Taiwan.
October pork exports totaled 245,345 metric tons (mt), up 3% year-over-year and the largest since June, valued at $688.2 million – down 2% from a year ago....
USDA Announces Planned Trade Missions for 2024
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced next steps in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to bolster U.S. agricultural trade, including the department’s planned trade missions for 2024 and the opening of a public comment period for the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). These efforts will help to support further growth in U.S. agricultural exports and introduce high-quality U.S. agricultural products to new markets.
“Market diversification is an important tool for maximizing growth opportunities for U.S. agriculture, as well as hedging...
American Egg Board Embarks on Trade Mission to Boost U.S. Export Growth
Last week, the American Egg Board (AEB) embarked on a 2023 U.S. Egg Industry Trade Mission to further its goal of boosting U.S. export growth and creating a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient egg industry.
Home of The Incredible Egg, the American Egg Board is the national marketing organization of America's egg farmers. AEB's mission is to increase demand for eggs and egg products through research, education, and promotion. AEB is located in Chicago.
From November 6-11, AEB faculty and U.S. egg industry leaders traveled to...
Paraguayan Authorities Approve Health Protocol for Beef Exports to U.S.
In a notice issued Monday, Minerva Foods announced that Servicio Nacional de Calidad y Salud Animal, from Paraguay, has approved a health protocol for Paraguayan beef exports to the United States.
Minerva Foods is South America's leading beef exporter and has four plants in Paraguay. Combined, those four facilities have a slaughter capacity of 8,000 head per day.
Only bureaucratic procedures remain before Paraguayan production units are certified and exports can be started, added the company. Once certified, these units will be added to assets in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay....
Fine-dining Initiative Underway to Differentiate U.S. Pork in Taiwan
USMEF kicks off a new campaign to revitalize U.S. pork’s image with the trade and consumers
Following setbacks that slashed exports of U.S. pork to Taiwan in recent years, demand has rebounded in 2023. Taiwan’s zero-tolerance policy for ractopamine residues and persistent trade tensions kept ractopamine in the public eye, creating a difficult business climate as U.S. exports plunged in 2021 and 2022.
While these headwinds linger, the business climate for U.S. pork has improved as supplies from Europe and domestic producers have...
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Podcast: Agri-Food for Thought Ep 7 - Meet Us in Las Vegas for the 48th Executive Conference
ANALYSIS: Beef 50s and Pork 42s Take Diverging Paths