Colorado’s exports in the first quarter of 2013 decreased 2.1 percent from the first quarter of 2012 while total U.S. agricultural exports were up 6.1 percent for the same period.
Colorado’s agricultural exports fell $9.4 million to $337.4 million in the first quarter versus 2012’s first quarter, according to a report released Friday by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
There were two key markets that created significant change in the Colorado export totals:
Mexico, the state’s third-largest beef-export market, cut its purchases of beef throughout the United States, with Colorado’s beef export to Mexico down more than $19 million.
Secondly, Colorado and national beef exporters also lost sales when Russia closed its market.
As a result, while U.S. exports of beef products were up 4.3 percent, Colorado’s beef exports, the state’s largest export commodity, decreased 3.9 percent.
However, beef exports to Canada were up 26 percent, an increase of $12.3 million; South Korea increased 28 percent to more than $28 million; Hong Kong grew 196 percent to $17 million; and Taiwan rose 128 percent to $8.2 million.
John Salazar, Colorado commissioner of agriculture, said in a statement that creating a wide range of global markets for Colorado beef “is critical for the long-term viability of our beef industry.”
The agency noted that, overall, Colorado’s agriculture exports have increased 72.7 percent since 2009.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939, hpankratz@denverpost.com or
