U.S. beef and pork exports opened 2021 below the large volumes posted a year ago, according to January data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) last week.

Beef exports totaled 105,047 metric tons in January, down 2% from a year ago, while value slipped 3% to $653 million. The decline was due mainly to lower beef variety meat shipments. January beef exports were very strong to South Korea...