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Although May exports of U.S. pork were higher year-over-year, volumes were significantly diminished by Mexico’s restrictions on pork offal items, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). May beef exports were below last year’s volume but edged higher in value.
Pork exports totaled 245,874 metric tons (mt) in May, up 10% from a year ago, with value up 8% to $701 million. But exports in May 2025 were unusually low due to heightened trade tensions with China, which temporarily pushed China’s tariff rate on U.S. pork as high as 172%. This impasse heavily impacted exports of pork variety meat, which totaled just over 30,000 mt in May 2025.
For January through May, pork and pork variety meat exports totaled 1.28 million mt, up 5% from a year ago, while value was also up 5% to $3.59 billion. In both volume and value, pork exports are less than 1% below the record pace established in 2024.
While pork variety meat exports exceeded 40,000 mt in May 2026, this was easily the lowest total of the year as January-April shipments averaged nearly 49,000 mt.
Mexico's restrictions on offal
May variety meat exports to Mexico were just 3,157 mt, down 80% from a year ago, due to restrictions imposed after the April 30 detection of pseudorabies virus (PRV) antibodies in five boars in Iowa. Mexico is normally the second largest destination for U.S. pork variety meats, after China. It is the dominant market for pork skins and jowls, and critical for items such as snouts, stomachs, tongues and hearts. Although Mexico modified its restrictions in early June to allow pork offal shipments from states other than Iowa and Texas, source verification requirements, and the importance of Iowa as the leading hog-producing state, continue to pose significant obstacles for exporters.
Pork plus pork variety meat exports to Mexico reached just 81,047 mt in May – down 17% from a year ago and the lowest since July 2023. Export value totaled $185.7 million, down 14% (or $30 million) and breaking a string of 13 consecutive months in which exports to Mexico exceeded $200 million.
Exports to Japan, Colombia, Central America offset lower totals for Mexico
Japan’s demand for U.S. pork continued to gain momentum in May, as exports totaled 37,872 mt, up 26% from a year ago and the largest since March 2021. Value increased 25% to $145.7 million – the highest since November 2021. For January through May, exports to Japan were 19% above last year’s pace at 161,330 mt, and were 14% higher in value at $613.7 million.
Led by growth in Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala, pork exports to Central America continued to shine in May. Shipments reached 16,187 mt, up 10% from a year ago, while value climbed 11% to $53.1 million. For January through May, exports to the region were 8% above last year’s record pace at 81,741 mt, valued at $270.7 million (up 13%).
Pork exports to Colombia had pulled back in recent months but rebounded impressively in May, posting the second largest monthly volume and value on record. Shipments totaled 14,397 mt, up 14% from a year ago, while value increased 19% to $41.5 million. Through the first five months of the year, exports to Colombia were 5% below last year’s pace in both volume (54,859 mt) and value ($158.3 million). Colombia also imposed PRV-related restrictions on pork offal, similar to those in Mexico, but they came later in May and it is a relatively small market for pork variety meats. The restrictions mainly impacted exports of jowls and further processed products, and Colombian regulators recently published a resolution removing them.
July 8, 2026/ USMEF/ United States.
https://www.usmef.org
