(NAFB) – U.S. beef and pork export value shattered previous records in May, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Announced this week, beef exports also reached a new volume high in May, while pork export volume was the third-largest on record.

USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom states, “The outstanding May performance is especially gratifying when you consider where red meat exports stood a year ago.”

May beef export volume soared to a record 133,400 metric tons, up 68 percent from a year ago, and value increased 88 percent. May pork exports totaled 283,600 metric tons, up 16 percent from a year ago and the third-largest on record.

Export value exceeded $800 million for the first time in May, climbing 31 percent to $813.2 million. However, Halstrom cautioned that U.S. labor availability remains a major concern and limitation for the industry, and exporters continue to face significant obstacles when shipping product overseas.