The US pork stars on the global stage

Americans consume more than 50 pounds of pork per person each year, and while the U.S. consumer can always improve their pork intake, we need the rest of the world to place pork at the center of their plates. According to the Pork Checkoff, in 2020 exports accounted for 29.3% of total U.S. pork and pork variety meat production. It is estimated that more than $58 of every hog sold in the U.S. can be attributed to export value. On the world stage, China, which produces half the hogs in the world, is also consuming half of the world’s pork. In 2020, China and Hong Kong brought in 2.283 billion pounds of U.S. pork, according to the Pork Checkoff. Skimming headlines tells how fickle the global situation can be. Free-flowing exports one minute can have trade gates slammed shut the next. That means continued work is needed to maintain the markets that currently welcome U.S. pork, while also creating new marketing partners. According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, pork exports ...