(NAFB) – October was a strong month for U.S. red meat exports.

USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation shows beef export value continued to soar. October’s pork exports were well below last year’s large total, but year-to-date shipments remained slightly above the record pace of 2020. Beef exports reached 115,700 metric tons in October, while export value climbed 48 percent to $957 million, the second-highest total on record. Only August of this year was higher. January through October exports hit 1.19 million metric tons, up 17 percent from 2021.

Beef exports will top $2 billion in three key markets, including South Korea, Japan, and China/Hong Kong.  Pork exports totaled 226,200 metric tons in October, while export value dropped 3.5 percent to $618 million. Through the first ten months of the year, pork exports were slightly higher in volume than last year.

Exports to Mexico hit a new monthly high in October at 84,000 metric tons.