In 2009, the United States exported a total of 1.86 million metric tons of pork valued at $4.32 billion, a decrease of 9 percent in volume and 11 percent in value over exports in 2008.  The decline is mostly accounted for by decreased exports to China and Russia.  Despite this temporary downturn the U.S. has surpassed both volume and value of 2007 pork exports. U.S. exports of pork and pork products have increased by more than 688 percent in volume terms and 657 percent in value terms since the implementation of the NAFTA in 1994 and the Uruguay Round Agreement in 1995.    In addition, the U.S. has seen a significant increase in exports to two major markets, Mexico and the Philippines, from 2008 to 2009.  U.S. exports to Mexico grew 27 percent in volume and 10 percent in value while the volume and value of exports to the Philippines increased by 44 percent and 41 percent, respectively.



New and expanded market access through trade agreements drives growth in U.S. pork exports. The chart above details the connection between trade agreements and exports. The top ten export markets in 2009 were Japan ($1.53 billion), Mexico ($762 million), Canada ($521 million), Hong Kong/China ($426 million), Russia ($289 million), South Korea ($215 million), Australia ($114 million), ASEAN ($107 million), Central and South America ($100 million), and the Caribbean ($78 million).

The United States is the low-cost producer of pork in the world.  The United States is the number one exporter of pork in the world and well-positioned to capture a significant share of the growing global pork market.

Prices – The Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University has calculated that in 2008, U.S. pork prices were $52 per head higher than they would have been in the absence of exports.

Jobs – The USDA has reported that U.S. meat exports have generated 200,000 additional jobs and that this number has increased by 20,000 to 30,000 jobs per year as exports have grown.

Income Multiplier – The USDA has reported that the income multiplier from meat exports is 54 percent greater than the income multiplier from bulk grain exports. 

Feed Grain and Soybean Industries – Each hog that is marketed in the United States consumes 12.82 bushels of corn and 183 pounds of soybean meal. With an annual commercial slaughter of 116.5 million animals in 2008, this corresponds to 1.5 billion bushels of corn and 10.3 million tons of soybean meal. Since approximately 20 percent of pork production was exported, pork exports accounted for approximately 300 million bushels of corn and 2.06 million tons of soybean meal.

Pending FTAs – Negotiations on free trade agreements between the United States and, separately, Colombia, Panama and South Korea were completed under the Bush administration, but the trade pacts have yet to be approved by the U.S. Congress. Once implemented, the pending trade agreements will boost the bottom line of U.S. pork producers.

U.S.-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement – In 2008, South Korea was the 6th largest value export destination for U.S. pork producers. According to Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes, the South Korea FTA, when fully implemented, will cause live U.S. hog prices to be $10 higher than would otherwise have been the case even assuming that both Canada and the EU implement FTAs with South Korea. 

Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement – According to Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes, the Colombia agreement, when fully implemented, will cause live U.S. hog prices to be $1.63 higher than would otherwise have been the case, and $1.15 higher even if Canada implements its pending FTA with Colombia. 

Panama Trade Promotion Agreement – According to Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes, the Panama agreement, when fully implemented, will cause hog prices to be 20 cents higher than would otherwise have been the case.

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