US signs pork export deals with Malaysia, Cambodia
Agreements to expand access for American pork producers in Southeast Asia
USA – US President Donald Trump has finalized new trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia, clearing the way for American pork exports to enter both Southeast Asian markets.
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced that the arrangement with Malaysia grants market access to all US facilities listed in the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory.
According to NPPC, the deal will not require any extra registration or certification processes for products or facilities, and Malaysia will accept the standard FSIS export documentation for pork shipments.
Cambodia signed a similar agreement under the same conditions, ensuring consistent export rules across both markets.
Malaysia to recognize ASF protection zones
As part of the agreement, Malaysia has also committed to formally recognizing the United States’ African Swine Fever (ASF) protection zones within 15 months of signing and to complete a regionalization framework that supports ongoing trade even in the event of localized outbreaks.
In 2024, the United States exported pork worth about US$24.5 million to Malaysia, according to NPPC data.
The council noted that this figure represents a major rise in trade, as shipments to Malaysia have grown by more than 1,700 percent over the past five years, despite only eight US plants currently approved to export there.
The expanded market access is expected to enable more facilities to participate, potentially increasing export volumes in the coming years.
US pork industry overview
The United States remains the world’s third-largest pork producer after China and the European Union, accounting for roughly 11 percent of global output.
For the 2024/2025 period, US pork production reached about 12.61 million metric tons, supported largely by high-capacity farms concentrated in states such as Iowa, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Illinois.
Industry data shows that while many farms operate on a smaller scale, a limited number of very large farms—each managing over 5,000 pigs—produce a substantial share of the country’s pork supply.
The pork sector contributes more than US$57 billion to the national economy and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across production, processing, and logistics.
In 2024, the US exported over 3 million metric tons of pork valued at more than US$8.6 billion to markets in more than 100 countries, highlighting its strong role in global meat trade.
The new deals with Malaysia and Cambodia are therefore viewed as part of a broader effort to diversify export destinations and maintain international market stability for US pork producers.
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