After an encouraging performance in April, exports of U.S. beef and pork lost momentum in May, falling below year-ago levels in both volume and value, according to data released recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Beef exports moved lower in May, dropping 14 percent from a year ago to 88,466 metric tons, the report said. Export value dipped lower year-over-year for the first time since January at $556.7 million (down 6 percent). For January through May, exports totaled 430,393 metric tons, down 10 percent from the same period in 2014. Export value remained ahead of last ...