Optimism at World Pork Expo Despite PRV Trade Restrictions

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U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Vice President of Economic Analysis Erin Borror noted overall optimism among producers and industry leaders at World Pork Expo in Des Moines last week. That positive outlook is driven by strong export sales, particularly in Latin America, that are contributing about $67 in value per every hog slaughtered and accounting for more than 30% of all pork production.

Pork Expo also gave Borror an opportunity to highlight current export restrictions placed on some offal products following the finding of pseudorabies virus in pigs in Texas and Iowa, most notably by Mexico. Those restrictions on items like skins, fat and feet are impacting an estimated $6-7 million in trade each week. Muscle cuts are not impacted, but Mexico is currently blocking a variety of offal items from the entirety of the United States. USMEF is working with USDA to urge the Mexican government to narrow those restrictions to only the impacted states and normalize trade as soon as possible.

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