U.S. Pork Exports Rise in 2026 as Beef Trends Lower in February

Pork exports are off to a good start in 2026. The February export data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), shows U.S. pork is slightly higher year-over-year. Meanwhile, beef exports trended lower, due in large part to continued lack of access to China.

“While leading market Mexico posted another excellent performance in February, shipments to Japan increased significantly from last year’s low total and exports also trended higher year-over-year to South Korea, Central America, the Dominican Republic and Taiwan,” USMEF reports.

Pork is above pace

In February, the contribution value per head of pork exports was $67 a head, the highest level in quite a while, USMEF adds. The total pork export value came in at $678.8 million.

For January through February, U.S. pork exports were 2% above last year’s pace in both volume at 493,372 metric tons and value at $1.37 billion. Export value is slightly ahead of the record pace established in 2024, USMEF notes.

Pork exports build momentum in Latin America and Japan

“Volume was up slightly from a year ago at 242,511 metric tons, up 1% and the value is also up 1%,” says USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom.

Two things stood out to Halstrom in the pork report.