Each day, I work with strategic partners and my team at the National Pork Board (NPB) to serve America’s 60,000 producers by adding value to every part of the pig, domestically and internationally. Today, I’m fired up to celebrate the record-breaking 2024 year-end pork export data released last week, indicating a volume of 3.03 million metric tons (+4% YoY) valued at $8.63 billion (+6%YoY).  

2024 Year-End Data 

Let’s look at some key highlights sourced directly from U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF):  

  • Pork exports to Mexico totaled 1.15 million metric tons in 2024, up 5% from the enormous total exported in 2023. Export value climbed 10% in 2024 to $2.58 billion – more than doubling since 2020. 
  • Colombia’s demand for U.S. pork increased 26% to 142,035 mt, far exceeding the previous record (106,456 mt) reached in 2021. Export value jumped 32% to just under $360 million.  

Source: USMEF, Feb. 6, 2025 Press Release  

Building Confidence in U.S. Pork 

The Pork Checkoff has developed an international market development strategy to build confidence in U.S. pork in a diverse global protein market. We differentiate U.S. Pork from competitors and add value and opportunity to other markets. We build trust in pork production and practices, expand markets and strategically position pork to drive purchase decisions.  

USMEF: Boots-On-The-Ground 

USMEF executes marketing programs on our behalf and positions U.S. pork as a safe, high-quality, consistent product. Additionally, USMEF leverages Checkoff dollars with USDA Foreign Agriculture Service contributions. The Market Access Program matches Checkoff dollars invested, meaning strategic partnerships create a strong return on investment for U.S. pork producers. 

Past NPB President and current USMEF Executive Member Gene Noem hits home the value of partnership when he explains that “marketing works, and we can leverage USMEF to be boots-on-the-ground expertise for short-term activations that create long-term demand.”  

Partnerships Boost Capabilities Abroad 

One such example is adding value to the loin in Mexico, where the growing demand for pork products and desire for versatility grow U.S. Pork import share. We collaborate with USMEF and two USDA programs to capitalize on consumer trends and teach importers how the primal can be processed, seasoned, packaged and marketed.  

It has never been more important that we collaborate closely as an industry. USMEF’s in-market expertise and NPB’s carcass maximization strategy boost demand in key countries. Colombia, for example, is the sixth-largest market for U.S. Pork1. Last fall, USMEF’s in-market experience suggested developing an innovative U.S. Boston Butt burger for food service. They presented it to importers, distributors and processors in four major Colombian cities.  

Optimism Ahead 

Finally, NPB’s international market development strategy truly values the contributions of producers and state pork association representatives. In 2024, numerous producers traveled to emerging and established markets on behalf of U.S. Pork to talk about on-farm production and learn about market dynamics to help shape future strategies.  

Overall, 2024 was a successful year for our international market development. I look forward to continuing working with strategic partners to build trust in and add value to U.S. Pork for our global consumers.  

Sources:

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and USMEF. Contact the Pork Checkoff for more information.