U.S. beef and pork exports continued their positive growth trend in April, increasing by double digits in volume and by an even healthier margin in value, according to statistics released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Higher prices commanded in the global market have driven up per-head export values for both U.S. beef and pork as international customers have, so far, been willing to pay higher prices for larger volumes.

For the month of April, total U.S. pork exports (muscle cuts plus variety meat) rose 11 percent over year-ago levels in volume to 192,924 metric tons valued at $596 million, a 26 percent increase. For the first four months of 2014, pork exports are up 11 percent in volume to...