USA: Pork variety meat exports' record performance boosts per-head value

Exports of U.S. pork variety meats topped $1.27 billion in 2022, up 3% year-over-year and setting an annual value record, according to USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Export value equated to $10.15 per head slaughtered, also an annual record. Export volume was the second largest on record at more than 530,000 metric tons, trailing only 2017. On a per-head basis, variety meat exports averaged 9.3 pounds for every hog slaughtered in the United States. "Pork variety meats play a key role in maximizing the value of every animal, and expanding exports of these products is critical because there is little domestic demand," said Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO. "In this respect, the 2022 results were very encouraging, as exports not only trended higher globally, but achieved growth in some markets where muscle cut shipments were lower." USDA data compiled by USMEF Halstrom explained that there was a downturn in variety meat export shipments in 2018, due in ...