U.S. Livestock Cold Storage Update – Nov ’20
Executive Summary
U.S. cold storage figures provided by the USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Oct ’20. Highlights from the updated report include:
According to the USDA, U.S. frozen pork stocks declined to a nine year low level throughout Oct ’20, finishing 26.8% below previous year volumes. Pork stocks reached a 15 year seasonal low level for the month of October. The YOY decline in pork stocks was the seventh experienced in a row and the largest experienced throughout the past ten years on a percentage basis. Frozen pork stocks had finished higher on a YOY basis over 11 consecutive months prior to the seven most recent YOY declines. The MOM decline in pork stocks of 17.5 million pounds, or 3.8%, was larger than the ten year average September – October seasonal decline in stocks of 11.4 million pounds, or 1.4%.
Beef – Stocks Finish Higher on a YOY Basis for the First Time in Four Months, Finish up 7.3%
U.S. frozen beef stocks rebounded seasonally to a seven month high level throughout Oct ’20 while finishing higher on a YOY basis for the first time in the past four months, increasing by 7.3%. Despite finishing higher on a YOY basis, beef stocks remained at the second lowest seasonal level experienced throughout the past six years. The MOM increase in beef stocks of 37.5 million pounds, or 8.1%, was significantly larger than the ten year average September – October seasonal increase in stocks of 5.2 million pounds, or 1.1%.
Chicken – Stocks Remain at a Three Year Seasonal Low Level, Finish Down 4.4% on a YOY Basis
U.S. frozen chicken stocks rebounded seasonally to a six month high level throughout Oct ’20 but finished 4.4% below previous year levels. Chicken stocks remained at a three year seasonal low level for the third consecutive month. Chicken stocks had finished higher on a YOY basis over ten consecutive months prior to finishing lower over each of the past three months. The MOM increase in chicken stocks of 23.8 million pounds, or 2.7%, was largely consistent with the ten year average September – October seasonal increase in stocks of 27.4 million pounds, or 3.7%.
Overall, Oct ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks finished 10.2% below the monthly record high level experienced throughout Jan ’20. Individually, Oct ’20 chicken stocks finished seven percent below the record high storage level experienced throughout Nov ’19 while beef and pork stocks finished 12% and 36% below historical maximum storage levels, respectively.
Oct ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks declined to a six year low seasonal level, finishing 8.4% below the record high seasonal level experienced during October of 2019. Individually, Oct ’20 chicken stocks finished four percent below the record high seasonal storage level while beef and pork stocks finished six percent and 27% below record high seasonal storage levels, respectively.
Oct ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks rebounded to a six month high level but remained 8.4% lower on a YOY basis. The Oct ’20 YOY decline in combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks was the sixth experienced in a row and the second largest experienced throughout the past six years on a percentage basis.
- U.S. pork stocks declined to a nine year low level throughout Oct ’20, finishing 26.8% below previous year volumes.
- U.S. beef stocks finished higher on a YOY basis for the first time in the past four months throughout Oct ’20, increasing by 7.3%.
- U.S. chicken stocks remained at a three year seasonal low level throughout Oct ‘20, finishing down 4.4% YOY.
According to the USDA, U.S. frozen pork stocks declined to a nine year low level throughout Oct ’20, finishing 26.8% below previous year volumes. Pork stocks reached a 15 year seasonal low level for the month of October. The YOY decline in pork stocks was the seventh experienced in a row and the largest experienced throughout the past ten years on a percentage basis. Frozen pork stocks had finished higher on a YOY basis over 11 consecutive months prior to the seven most recent YOY declines. The MOM decline in pork stocks of 17.5 million pounds, or 3.8%, was larger than the ten year average September – October seasonal decline in stocks of 11.4 million pounds, or 1.4%.
Beef – Stocks Finish Higher on a YOY Basis for the First Time in Four Months, Finish up 7.3%
U.S. frozen beef stocks rebounded seasonally to a seven month high level throughout Oct ’20 while finishing higher on a YOY basis for the first time in the past four months, increasing by 7.3%. Despite finishing higher on a YOY basis, beef stocks remained at the second lowest seasonal level experienced throughout the past six years. The MOM increase in beef stocks of 37.5 million pounds, or 8.1%, was significantly larger than the ten year average September – October seasonal increase in stocks of 5.2 million pounds, or 1.1%.
Chicken – Stocks Remain at a Three Year Seasonal Low Level, Finish Down 4.4% on a YOY Basis
U.S. frozen chicken stocks rebounded seasonally to a six month high level throughout Oct ’20 but finished 4.4% below previous year levels. Chicken stocks remained at a three year seasonal low level for the third consecutive month. Chicken stocks had finished higher on a YOY basis over ten consecutive months prior to finishing lower over each of the past three months. The MOM increase in chicken stocks of 23.8 million pounds, or 2.7%, was largely consistent with the ten year average September – October seasonal increase in stocks of 27.4 million pounds, or 3.7%.
Overall, Oct ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks finished 10.2% below the monthly record high level experienced throughout Jan ’20. Individually, Oct ’20 chicken stocks finished seven percent below the record high storage level experienced throughout Nov ’19 while beef and pork stocks finished 12% and 36% below historical maximum storage levels, respectively.
Oct ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks declined to a six year low seasonal level, finishing 8.4% below the record high seasonal level experienced during October of 2019. Individually, Oct ’20 chicken stocks finished four percent below the record high seasonal storage level while beef and pork stocks finished six percent and 27% below record high seasonal storage levels, respectively.
Oct ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks rebounded to a six month high level but remained 8.4% lower on a YOY basis. The Oct ’20 YOY decline in combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks was the sixth experienced in a row and the second largest experienced throughout the past six years on a percentage basis.