February U.S. pork and beef exports were well above year-ago levels, with pork exports posting the strongest February volume on record, according to statistics released last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Pork exports reached 197,025 metric tons in February, up 15 percent year-over-year, with value up 17 percent to $486.7 million. For the first two months of 2017, exports totaled 399,692 metric tons, up 18 percent, with value increasing 22 percent to $995.3 million, the report said.

Export value per hog slaughtered averaged $51.94 in February, up 18 percent year-over-year, while the...