Momentum continues to build for U.S. exports to China/Hong Kong, extending the trend that began in the fourth quarter of last year. Through February, exports were 86 percent above last year’s pace in volume (73,536 mt) and 50 percent higher in value ($138.6 million).

“Declines in Chinese hog numbers and pork production have pushed prices to the highest level since 2011, triggering larger imports from all suppliers,” Seng said. “To capitalize on these supply and demand dynamics, USMEF has stepped up efforts to educate importers about the availability, quality, consistency and affordability of U.S. pork. At the same time, the import market continues to receive large volumes of very competitively-priced product from Europe. We are in a battle for market share, not only in China but also in all key Asian markets.”