The June export data for pork shows the Jekyll and Hyde situation facing the industry. Typically, those sales follow the seasonal slaughter pattern and start to drop off in June, but the latest export totals painted a mixed picture that reflects the uncertainty in the export market. Exports are a key metric for the U.S. hog sector. In June, they accounted for 27.8 percent of pork production versus 25.8 percent for the first half of the year. If exports continue at the same pace for the rest of the year, they could take up to 1 percent more of production, which is key as that is expected to be larger in the second half of the year. The last USDA Hogs and Pigs report estimated the pig crop so far this year to be 4 percent larger than in 2018...

TAGS – Livestock, Asia, China, North America