August was a strong month for U.S. red meat exports as beef export volume was the largest in nearly two years and both beef and pork exports posted the highest monthly values of 2016, according to statistics released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

August beef export volume climbed 27 percent from a year ago to 106,818 metric tons — the highest since October 2014, breaking the 100,000 metric ton mark for the first time this year. Export value was $566.8 million, up 14 percent. For January through August, export volume was up 6 percent to 747,706 metric tons, while value was down 7 percent to just over $4 billion, the report said.

Pork exports ...