U.S. Livestock Cold Storage Update – Apr ’15
Pork – Stocks Increase 16.2% YOY to New March Record Level
According to USDA, Mar ’15 U.S. frozen pork stocks of 668.6 million pounds declined 2.6% MOM but remained higher on a YOY basis, increasing 16.2%. Month ending stocks set a new record high for the month of March and were the third largest monthly figure on record. Pork stocks increased YOY for the second month in a row after 11 consecutive months of YOY declines were experienced from Mar ’14 – Jan ’15. The YOY increase in stocks was the largest experienced in the last 29 months on a percentage basis while the February – March decline in pork stocks of 2.6% was consistent with the five year average February – March seasonal decline of 2.5%. Pork stocks finished 9.4% higher than the three year average March pork stocks.
Beef – Stocks Remain Higher on YOY Basis, Finish up 18.2%
Mar ’15 U.S. frozen beef stocks of 479.8 million pounds declined 2.4% MOM but remained higher on a YOY basis, increasing 18.2%. The monthly YOY increase in beef stocks was the fourth in a row after nine consecutive months of YOY declines were experienced from Mar ’14 – Nov ’14. The YOY increase in stocks was the largest experienced in the last 46 months on a percentage basis. The February – March decline in beef stocks of 2.4% was slightly less than the five year average February – March seasonal decline of 2.8%. Beef stocks finished 1.3% higher than the three year average March beef stocks.
Chicken – Stocks Continue to Climb, Finish up 27.1% YOY
Mar ’15 U.S. frozen chicken stocks of 751.9 million pounds increased 2.7% MOM and 27.1% YOY. Chicken stocks increased YOY for the fourth month in a row after nine consecutive months of YOY declines were experienced from Mar ’14 – Nov ’14. The YOY increase in stocks was the largest experienced in the last 29 months on a percentage basis. The February – March increase in chicken stocks of 19.8 million pounds was the first experienced in the past eight years and the largest experienced in the last ten years. Chicken stocks have decreased seasonally by an average of 34.1 million pounds, or 5.1%, from February – March over the last five years. The Russian import ban continues to negatively affect U.S. broiler exports, as export volumes have declined 8.7% from Oct ’14 – Feb ’15. Chicken stocks finished 25.7% higher than the three year average March chicken stocks.
Overall, combined Mar ’15 U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks were just 0.7% less than the historical maximum storage level experienced in Jan ’06. Individually, Mar ’15 U.S. pork and beef stocks finished at levels above 90% of historical maximum storage levels, while U.S. chicken stocks were also relatively high, finishing above 80% of historical maximum storage levels.
According to USDA, Mar ’15 U.S. frozen pork stocks of 668.6 million pounds declined 2.6% MOM but remained higher on a YOY basis, increasing 16.2%. Month ending stocks set a new record high for the month of March and were the third largest monthly figure on record. Pork stocks increased YOY for the second month in a row after 11 consecutive months of YOY declines were experienced from Mar ’14 – Jan ’15. The YOY increase in stocks was the largest experienced in the last 29 months on a percentage basis while the February – March decline in pork stocks of 2.6% was consistent with the five year average February – March seasonal decline of 2.5%. Pork stocks finished 9.4% higher than the three year average March pork stocks.
Beef – Stocks Remain Higher on YOY Basis, Finish up 18.2%
Mar ’15 U.S. frozen beef stocks of 479.8 million pounds declined 2.4% MOM but remained higher on a YOY basis, increasing 18.2%. The monthly YOY increase in beef stocks was the fourth in a row after nine consecutive months of YOY declines were experienced from Mar ’14 – Nov ’14. The YOY increase in stocks was the largest experienced in the last 46 months on a percentage basis. The February – March decline in beef stocks of 2.4% was slightly less than the five year average February – March seasonal decline of 2.8%. Beef stocks finished 1.3% higher than the three year average March beef stocks.
Chicken – Stocks Continue to Climb, Finish up 27.1% YOY
Mar ’15 U.S. frozen chicken stocks of 751.9 million pounds increased 2.7% MOM and 27.1% YOY. Chicken stocks increased YOY for the fourth month in a row after nine consecutive months of YOY declines were experienced from Mar ’14 – Nov ’14. The YOY increase in stocks was the largest experienced in the last 29 months on a percentage basis. The February – March increase in chicken stocks of 19.8 million pounds was the first experienced in the past eight years and the largest experienced in the last ten years. Chicken stocks have decreased seasonally by an average of 34.1 million pounds, or 5.1%, from February – March over the last five years. The Russian import ban continues to negatively affect U.S. broiler exports, as export volumes have declined 8.7% from Oct ’14 – Feb ’15. Chicken stocks finished 25.7% higher than the three year average March chicken stocks.
Overall, combined Mar ’15 U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks were just 0.7% less than the historical maximum storage level experienced in Jan ’06. Individually, Mar ’15 U.S. pork and beef stocks finished at levels above 90% of historical maximum storage levels, while U.S. chicken stocks were also relatively high, finishing above 80% of historical maximum storage levels.