Soybean Checkoff supports market development for U.S. Pork

Written by U.S. Meat Export Federation staff.

While trade and economic uncertainties have impacted American agricultural exports in recent months, Kansas soybean producers have kept their eye on the horizon, committed in their support of the market development efforts of the pork industry. In markets such as Japan and Korea, Kansas soybean production increasingly finds its way to consumers in the value-added form of U.S. pork. With a combined population of nearly 175 million, low pork self-sufficiency levels and a strong affinity for pork, Japan and Korea hold significant long-term growth potential.

Japan is a leading export customer for U.S. pork, ranking as the third-largest market by volume and second-largest by value, reaching $1.05 billion through the first 10 months of 2025. Japan is a major pork importer, relying on imports for more than 50% of its pork consumption. Japan consistently imports more than 1 million metric tons each year.

Japanese buyers seek a diverse range of U.S. pork cuts including loin, tenderloin, picnics, butts, and even variety meats. The rising consumption of processed pork products and a shift toward more value-oriented proteins in foodservice and retail are also expected to drive growing demand for imported pork. With labor shortages and stagnant domestic production, imported pork will be essential for meeting Japan’s expanding demand.

Korea is also a critical export customer, surpassing Canada to become the pork industry’s fourth-largest export market by volume and fifth-largest by value, reaching $553 million through the first 10 months of 2025. While pork imports and domestic pork production have been increasing in Korea, per capita pork consumption increased more than 40% from 2010 to 2024. Korea remains about 66% self-sufficient in pork production.

Korea is experiencing strong growth in single-person households and increasing demand for quality and convenience. The Korean food industry is investing heavily in new product development and has become an innovator in how it utilizes imported pork and beef. U.S. pork cuts are gaining wider visibility at Korean retail, including pork bulgogi, hot pot sliced sheet belly and cuts utilized for value-added home meal replacement (HMR) items.

A major market development strategy for USMEF in export markets is to partner with the trade ‒ importers, distributors, processors ‒ to grow purchase volumes and expand the range of cuts their end-user customers sell to consumers in retail and foodservice. USMEF also works with the trade on new product development and in incorporating U.S. pork cuts or variety meat items into manufacturing further processed foods.

In Japan, where inflation and a weak yen have reduced the purchasing power of consumers, USMEF has stepped up its work with importers and target accounts on affordable, alternative U.S. pork options, recently helping a ramen noodle chain switch to U.S. pork as an ingredient in one of its most popular dishes. Kairikiya, with 160 outlets in Japan, is now using U.S. pork cushion meat (cut from the pork shoulder) for “char siu,” a topping ingredient that is crucial to creating a unique flavor for the dish. Another example is Sunny Side, a major regional food manufacturer and distributor in Ishikawa Prefecture, which shifted from domestic pork to U.S. pork rectum as the raw material for one of its most popular seasoned yakiniku items. The company expects to use 30 metric tons of U.S. pork rectum annually.

In Korea, as domestic pork prices continue rising, USMEF is working to carve out a place for U.S. pork with tonkatsu, a very popular dish with Korean consumers. To promote U.S. pork and differentiate it in this product category, USMEF collaborated with Hyundai Home Shopping, one of Korea’s top four shopping channels, to develop an air-fryer-friendly tonkatsu product using 100% U.S. pork loin. Since pork for tonkatsu in Korea is typically advertised as a domestic product, promoting grain-fed U.S. pork for the new tonkatsu product will help differentiate it from other pork import sources with consumers. USMEF is also working to promote U.S. pork as a nutritional protein snack in Korea, using outdoor running, sporting and fitness events.  USMEF promotes U.S. pork as a flavorful, versatile, high-quality protein that supports athletic performance and recovery. For the events USMEF worked with a Korean processor to develop U.S. pork jerky ‒ a portable, protein-rich snack that consumers can enjoy at the event or take home.