The U.S. Meat Export Federation is always working to maximize the value of U.S. meat exports globally. For pork producers the monetary return on each pig through export sales is a vital piece of the profitability puzzle.
The mission of USMEF is to “Increase the value and profit opportunities for the U.S. beef, pork and lamb industries by enhancing demand in export markets through a coordinated and collaborative partnership of all stakeholders.” A recent trip was just made by USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom along with other USMEF staff to South Korea, a key export destination for U.S. pork. At today’s Iowa Pork Congress trade show in downtown Des Moines, Halstrom says that the trip was multipurpose.
Asian markets have had a slow return to normalcy following Covid restrictions and Halstrom says that delay is still evident in South Korea.
While 2023 was a very good year for pork exports, Halstrom says one region greatly helped to drive overall export numbers.
Halstrom says that despite some mature markets such as South Korea and Mexico already purchasing large amounts of U.S. pork, there is still room for market growth.
He says the Phillipines, Malaysia, and Peru are all examples of countries on the other end of the spectrum, with a large amount of growth potential.
Halstrom says that ultimately, the best way to promote U.S. pork in international markets is through fostering relationships between producers and consumers.
For more information on the U.S. Meat Export Federation, visit https://usmef.org/
