Exports of U.S. pork to Japan have shown an impressive rebound in 2026. The market has faced challenges such as high energy costs and a weak yen against the U.S. dollar, but some value sectors have increasingly relied on U.S. pork loin and pork butt. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said those value sectors include ramen noodle chains and bento box companies.
Halstrom says that Japan’s refusal to recognize Spain’s African swine fever regionalization has kept Spanish pork out of the Japanese market, creating a gap for U.S products. However, he also sees that as a warning sign and calls for finalizing a U.S. regionalization agreement with Japan to protect future U.S. exports should a similar event occur in the U.S.
As highlighted in the June 12, 2026 USMEF weekly report, U.S. pork exports were strong through April—reaching over 1 million metric tons thanks to growth in strategic markets like Japan. Finalizing a formal bilateral regionalization agreement now is crucial to maintaining U.S. pork in such an important market and protecting these record-pacing gains against potential future disease disruptions.
