Iowa’s annual pork exports surpassed the $1 billion mark last year for the first time in the state’s history, according to figures released today by the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

Those figures indicate that in the first 11 months of 2010, Iowa companies exported $1,005,022,505 in pork products. December export figures are not yet available.

“Exporting more than $1 billion in pork products is exciting,” Gov. Terry Branstad said in a press release. “Market expansion is key to Iowa’s business and industry growth, and the more we can open overseas markets such as Korea and China, the more we can help our Iowa companies take advantage of export opportunities.”

In 2010, Iowa companies exported pork products to 43 countries. Since 1998, Iowa’s pork exports have increased fivefold and now account for nearly 24 percent of total U.S. pork production. The state’s top pork product export markets for 2010 include:
 – Japan ($440 million), 43.8 percent of state total
–  Mexico ($126 million), 12.6 percent of total
– Canada ($119 million), 11.8  percent of total
– Hong Kong/China ($91 million), 9.1 percent of total
–  Russia ($61 million), 1.6 percent of total

“Exports are critical to the success of the industry, and this is wonderful news for Iowa’s pork producers, who work very hard to responsibly produce quality, nutritious and affordable products,” said John Weber, president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA).”IPPA started foreign market development activities in 1989 and has generally taken two foreign trade missions a year since. In 1995, the U.S. became a net exporter of pork, and that status remains today.”