Red meat exports set volume and value records in the month of May.  Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation said beef continues to put-up eye-popping numbers.

“We exceeded $1 billion in value again, in the month of May to an all-time record high. Also record breaking on a volume basis, broad based growth once again."

Halstrom was quick to point out it’s not any one market that’s pushing beef exports higher.

“Of course, you know, we continue to see growth out of China.  But we have other parts of the world: Indonesia, Philippines, Caribbean region, places like Colombia, all showing significant growth.  You know, one of the things we're always focused on is market diversification.  We're trying to create incremental growth in some newer markets. And, you know, we have a record month in May, and that's with two of our larger markets, Japan and Korea both being down slightly on volume. So the strategy is working.”

When it comes to other exports, Halstrom noted while well below last year's large totals, pork exports posted a 2022 high in the month of May.  And American lamb exports also continued to gain momentum in May led by growth in the Caribbean and Mexico.

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