LAKEWOOD, Colo. — March trade data showed record beef exports, while pork exports held steady. Beef exports in March totaled 303.7 million pounds, up 1.2% from last year. It was also the highest beef export level reported for any month of March. March trade also finalized first quarter trade statistics which showed the first quarter of 2022 were record large at 845.8 million pounds, up 6.2% from a year earlier.
South Korea, Japan, and China were the top three destinations during the first quarter at 208.9, 186.0, and 145.4 million pounds, respectively. First quarter beef exports to China were a record at 145.4 million pounds, up 61.8% from 2021. Beef imports were 353.8 million pounds in March, up 29.5% from a year ago. Total first quarter beef imports were 984.6 million pounds, 41.4% higher than 2021 and the largest first quarter level on record. During the first quarter, Brazil was the highest supplier at 230.2 million pounds shipped, a five-fold increase from 2021, which also accounted for one-third of total imports.
March pork exports totaled 544.2 million pounds, down 25.3% from a year ago but in line with the five-year average. First quarter pork exports were down 20% from 2021 to 1.5 billion pounds. During the first quarter, Mexico was the top pork export market with 602.5 million pounds shipped, an increase of 42.4%. Japan ranked as the second highest pork export destination at 276.2 million pounds, down 16.1% from 2021. South Korea rounds out the third spot with 133.9 million pounds shipped, down 7.4% from a year earlier.
March pork imports were a record at 132.9 million pounds, 45.9% above last year. This resulted in first quarter pork imports being 358.3 million pounds, up 45.0% from 2021 and the largest first quarter pork import level recorded. Canada was the main supplier at 223.7 million pounds, up 42.4% from 2021 and 62% of total pork imports for the quarter.
First quarter broiler exports totaled nearly 1.9 billion pounds, a record for the first quarter of any year and up almost one percent (0.7%) from a year ago. Turkey exports were 107.4 million pounds in the first quarter, down 17.6% from a year earlier. First quarter lamb and mutton imports were 88.3 million pounds, up 28.9% from last year.
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— Livestock Marketing Information Center