Mike Pearson tells us how despite processing plants and farms closing, exports are up in 2023. Meat Export Federation reports exports are up 13 percent from last year.

Just three years ago , pork exports reached a new record export of 3 million metric tons, most of it destined for China. This was due to African Swine Fever. And the result was American farmers growing farms and hog production.

However, hog demand in China dried up as ASF became under control.

Since then, farmers have been looking for new export markets. So far this year, producers have earned 4.67 billion in pork export dollars in 2023, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Market diversification is responsible for the export market growth.

Producers are finding new buyers on the global stage.

And there has been major growth in the Western hemisphere.

For example, Mexico’s pork exports are up 15 percent over 2022.

Central America has also become bigger imports with El Savador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras leading the way.

And Taiwan has also shown great growth in 2023. In 2023, Taiwan imported just over $880,000 in pork. This year, Taiwan has imported over 7.8 million dollars in pork products so far—that’s 529 percent growth.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, a farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.