2025 proved to be another strong year for U.S. pork exports, with a volume of 2.9 million metric tons, landing three percent shy of the 2024 record, but it was still the third-highest on record. Value was three percent down from 2024’s record, but the second-highest at $8.4 billion. Andy Tauer, vice president of international market development at the National Pork Board, says the industry continues to see sustained demand for U.S. pork in the Western Hemisphere.
“Mexico was record large this year in both terms of value and volume. Records in other Central American countries as well as the Caribbean, and so again, I think that really starts to solidify U.S. pork’s footprint in this Western Hemisphere. We do continue to see some challenges and some headwinds with some of our Asian markets. A lot of that is driven by geopolitics as well as dollar value.”
The U.S. Meat Export Federation works closely with the pork industry as a key partner in expanding and strengthening export markets for U.S. pork around the world. One area that is bringing value and profit opportunities is the pork loin in Japan..
“In Takatsu, in that Japanese market, and this one is really, really going well in that marketplace. So again, just another example of how diverse the product mix is for U.S. pork in that partnership with USMEF, because if it wasn’t for their team and the boots on the ground, and really understanding what that Japanese market is looking for, we wouldn’t be able to deliver on product like that. So again, that partnership and those regional experts that that USMEF has are just key to being able to continue to drive demand for U.S. pork.”
Variety meats add value to the carcass since they are not consumed in the U.S. USMEF reports that December variety meat exports increased year-over-year to the Philippines, Central America, Colombia, Japan, and the Dominican Republic. 2025 year-end data indicate volume was down seven percent to more than 547,000 metric tons, and value declined nine percent to $1.18 billion. Tauer expands…
“This is a great opportunity to add to that overall value of the carcass. And this year, I think we’re second or third-highest overall value, and a lot of that’s driven by the volume of those variety meats that are exported around the globe. And Mexico was one that really kind of stood up and took a lot more of the variety meats this year, as we’re not shipping quite so much into the Chinese market.”
Tauer said that as the industry looks ahead to 2026, another strong year appears to be taking shape, due in part to the ongoing partnership with USMEF. Visit porkcheckoff.org for more detailed export data.