In total, 241,179 metric tons of pork were exported in February — a 4% decrease from the strong volume seen in February 2024. Export value dropped by 2% to $671.5 million. Over the first two months of 2025, the U.S. exported 485,144 metric tons of pork — 3% below the record pace set in early 2024, with total export value down 2% to $1.34 billion.
“I can’t say enough about the tremendous demand for U.S. pork in Mexico and Central America, where the U.S. industry continues to successfully move a wide range of center-of-the-plate cuts to a variety of end users,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom.
However, he noted that this strong performance was partially offset by a slow start in Japan and South Korea. Although February shipments to China slightly exceeded last year’s levels, they could have been even higher if not for the uncertainty surrounding plant eligibility — which was only resolved in mid-March.
In February and March, many U.S. pork, beef, and poultry processing plants and cold storage facilities were scheduled for five-year eligibility renewals by China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC). While pork and poultry plants were renewed by the March 16 deadline, GACC has not yet renewed any U.S. beef facilities. As a result, the majority of U.S. beef production is currently ineligible for export to China.
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