U.S. Livestock Cold Storage Update – Dec ’15
Pork – Stocks Finish at New Record High for the Month of November, up 14.0% YOY
According to USDA, Nov ’15 U.S. frozen pork stocks of 561.9 million pounds declined by 6.9% MOM but remained 14.0% higher YOY, finishing at a new record high level for the month of November. Pork stocks have increased YOY for ten month in a row after 11 consecutive months of YOY declines were experienced from Mar ’14 – Jan ’15. Record high stocks were experienced despite the MOM decline of 41.6 million pounds, or 6.9%, finishing at nearly twice the ten year average October – November seasonal decline in stocks of 19.6 million lbs, or 3.7%. Nov ’15 pork stocks finished 5.5% higher than the three year average November pork stocks.
Beef – Stocks Increase to New Two and a Half Year High, Finish up 27.4% YOY
Nov ’15 U.S. frozen beef stocks of 510.5 million pounds increased 0.9% MOM and 27.4% YOY, finishing at a nine year high for the month of November. The monthly YOY increase in beef stocks was the 12th experienced in a row after nine consecutive months of YOY declines were experienced from Mar ’14 – Nov ’14. The MOM increase in beef stocks of 4.6 million pounds, or 0.9%, was smaller than the ten year average October – November increase in beef stocks of 11.6 million pounds, or 2.7%, however stocks remained at a two and a half year high on an absolute basis. Nov ’15 beef stocks finished 18.4% higher than the three year average November beef stocks.
Chicken – Stocks Finish at New Record High for the Month of November, up 26.6% YOY
Nov ’15 U.S. frozen chicken stocks of 882.3 million pounds increased 2.8% MOM and 26.6% YOY, finishing at a new record high level for the month of November. Chicken stocks increased YOY for the 12th month in a row after nine consecutive months of YOY declines were experienced from Mar ’14 – Nov ’14. The MOM increase in chicken stocks of 23.7 million pounds, or 2.8%, was slightly larger than the ten year average October – November seasonal increase of 17.0 million pounds, or 2.3%. Stocks have built as the Russian import ban continues to negatively affect U.S. broiler exports. U.S. broiler export volumes have declined by 10.3% YOY since the ban was announced. Nov ’15 chicken stocks finished 25.6% higher than the three year average November chicken stocks and are at a nine and a half year high on an absolute basis.
Overall, combined Nov ’15 U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks finished just 0.7% below the monthly record high experienced in Oct ’15. Individually, Nov ’15 U.S. beef and chicken stocks finished above 95% of historical maximum storage levels, while pork stocks were also relatively high, finishing above 80% of historical maximum storage levels.
Combined Nov ’15 pork, beef and chicken stocks finished at a record high level for the month of November. Individually, Nov ’15 U.S. pork and chicken stocks set new record highs for the month of November, while beef stocks finished within two percent of historical maximum storage levels for the month of November.