WASHINGTON – US pork exports set a monthly volume record in November, pushing the January-November volume total to 2.04 million metric tons with a value total of $5.526 billion, according to the US Meat Export Federation.

The results represent an increase of 18 percent year-over-year while the value advanced 27 percent. This puts US pork export value on pace to reach the $6 billion mark in 2011, USMEF said. Pork export values had never reached $5 billion before 2011.

Beef exports also performed well and should break the $5 billion mark for the first time ever once December results are available, according to USMEF. November beef exports reached 105,268 metric tons valued at $456.25 million. November exports were up 4 percent in volume on a year-over-year basis, with a value 17 percent higher compared to November 2010 totals. January-November beef export totals advanced 22 percent to 1.179 million metric tons valued at $4.944 billion, up 35 percent compared to 2010 results.

US lamb export values advanced 49 percent to $27.76 million through November, just edging the record of $27.75 million set in 2006 and with December results yet to be tallied, USMEF said. Strong November results pushed export volumes for the year to 16,958 metric tons, up 79 percent from a year ago. Strong performance in Mexico and Canada accounted for much of the growth, with solid results in Central America, the Middle East and the Caribbean.