Skip to content
800-884-8290

|

Client Login

|

Open an Account
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Futures & Options Brokerage
    • Organic Grain Swaps
    • Margin Management
    • Commodity Marketing Education
    • Consulting & Insurance
  • Research
    • Dairy
    • Livestock
    • Grain & Oilseeds
    • Ethanol & Biodiesel
  • Account
  • Quotes
  • Contact Us

U.S. Livestock Cold Storage Update – Aug ’20

  • August 24, 2020
  • by Belinda Przybylski
Executive Summary U.S. cold storage figures provided by the USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Jul ’20. Highlights from the updated report include:
  • U.S. pork stocks declined to an eight and a half year low level during Jul ’20, finishing 25.0% below previous year volumes.
  • U.S. beef stocks declined on a YOY basis for the first time in the past six months during Jul ‘20, finishing down 3.3% and reaching a three year seasonal low level.
  • U.S. chicken stocks remained higher on a YOY basis for the tenth consecutive month during Jul ‘20, finishing up 3.4%.
Additional Report Details Pork – Stocks Decline to an Eight and a Half Year Low Level, Finish Down 25.0% on a YOY Basis According to the USDA, U.S. frozen pork stocks declined to an eight and a half year low level throughout Jul ’20, finishing 25.0% below previous year volumes. The YOY decline in pork stocks was the fourth experienced in a row. Frozen pork stocks had finished higher on a YOY basis over 11 consecutive months prior to the four most recent YOY declines. The MOM decline in pork stocks of 1.3 million pounds, or 0.3%, was smaller than the ten year average June – July seasonal decline in stocks of 14.2 million pounds, or 2.7%, however. Beef – Stocks Decline on a YOY Basis for the First Time in Six Months, Finish Down 3.3% U.S. frozen beef stocks rebounded to a three month high level but declined on a YOY basis for the first time in the past six months throughout Jul ’20, finishing down 3.3%. Beef stocks reached a three year seasonal low level for the month of July. The MOM increase in beef stocks of 11.1 million pounds, or 2.6%, was slightly larger than the ten year average June – July seasonal increase in stocks of 7.2 million pounds, or 1.9%. Chicken – Stocks Remain Lower on a YOY Basis for the Tenth Consecutive Month, Finish up 3.4% U.S. frozen chicken stocks rebounded to a three month high level throughout Jul ’20 while finishing 3.4% higher on a YOY basis The YOY increase in chicken stocks was the tenth experienced in a row. The MOM increase in chicken stocks of 10.1 million pounds, or 1.2%, was largely consistent with the ten year average June – July seasonal increase in stocks of 11.7 million pounds, or 1.8%. The MOM increase in stocks was in addition to a 1.4% upward revision to the previous month stocks level. Overall, Jul ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks finished 14.3% below the monthly record high level experienced throughout Jan ’20. Individually, Jul ’20 chicken stocks finished 11% below the record high storage level experienced throughout Nov ’19 while beef and pork stocks finished 23% and 35% below historical maximum storage levels, respectively. Jul ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks declined to a six year low seasonal level, finishing 7.3% below the record high seasonal level experienced during July of 2019. Individually, Jul ’20 chicken stocks finished just 0.1% below the record high seasonal storage level while beef and pork stocks finished ten percent and 28% below record high seasonal storage levels, respectively. Jul ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks rebounded to a three month high level but remained 7.3% lower on a YOY basis. The Jul ’20 YOY decline in combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks was the third experienced in a row and the largest experienced throughout the past five and a half years on a percentage basis. Executive Summary U.S. cold storage figures provided by the USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Jul ’20. Highlights from the updated report include:
  • U.S. pork stocks declined to an eight and a half year low level during Jul ’20, finishing 25.0% below previous year volumes.
  • U.S. beef stocks declined on a YOY basis for the first time in the past six months during Jul ‘20, finishing down 3.3% and reaching a three year seasonal low level.
  • U.S. chicken stocks remained higher on a YOY basis for the tenth consecutive month during Jul ‘20, finishing up 3.4%.
Additional Report Details Pork – Stocks Decline to an Eight and a Half Year Low Level, Finish Down 25.0% on a YOY Basis According to the USDA, U.S. frozen pork stocks declined to an eight and a half year low level throughout Jul ’20, finishing 25.0% below previous year volumes. The YOY decline in pork stocks was the fourth experienced in a row. Frozen pork stocks had finished higher on a YOY basis over 11 consecutive months prior to the four most recent YOY declines. The MOM decline in pork stocks of 1.3 million pounds, or 0.3%, was smaller than the ten year average June – July seasonal decline in stocks of 14.2 million pounds, or 2.7%, however. Beef – Stocks Decline on a YOY Basis for the First Time in Six Months, Finish Down 3.3% U.S. frozen beef stocks rebounded to a three month high level but declined on a YOY basis for the first time in the past six months throughout Jul ’20, finishing down 3.3%. Beef stocks reached a three year seasonal low level for the month of July. The MOM increase in beef stocks of 11.1 million pounds, or 2.6%, was slightly larger than the ten year average June – July seasonal increase in stocks of 7.2 million pounds, or 1.9%. Chicken – Stocks Remain Lower on a YOY Basis for the Tenth Consecutive Month, Finish up 3.4% U.S. frozen chicken stocks rebounded to a three month high level throughout Jul ’20 while finishing 3.4% higher on a YOY basis The YOY increase in chicken stocks was the tenth experienced in a row. The MOM increase in chicken stocks of 10.1 million pounds, or 1.2%, was largely consistent with the ten year average June – July seasonal increase in stocks of 11.7 million pounds, or 1.8%. The MOM increase in stocks was in addition to a 1.4% upward revision to the previous month stocks level. Overall, Jul ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks finished 14.3% below the monthly record high level experienced throughout Jan ’20. Individually, Jul ’20 chicken stocks finished 11% below the record high storage level experienced throughout Nov ’19 while beef and pork stocks finished 23% and 35% below historical maximum storage levels, respectively. Jul ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks declined to a six year low seasonal level, finishing 7.3% below the record high seasonal level experienced during July of 2019. Individually, Jul ’20 chicken stocks finished just 0.1% below the record high seasonal storage level while beef and pork stocks finished ten percent and 28% below record high seasonal storage levels, respectively. Jul ’20 combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks rebounded to a three month high level but remained 7.3% lower on a YOY basis. The Jul ’20 YOY decline in combined U.S. pork, beef and chicken stocks was the third experienced in a row and the largest experienced throughout the past five and a half years on a percentage basis.
U.S. Cattle on Feed Update – Aug ’20
Atten Babler Meat FX Indices – Sep ’20
Dairy
Ethanol
Livestock
Grain

Recent Livestock Research

  • US Hog Slaughter Report – Mar ’24
  • U.S. Hog Production: Rising Output and Changing Trends in Productivity Growth
  • Eggs & Poultry Update – Jun ’22
  • U.S. Livestock & Meat Trade Update – May ’22
  • Atten Babler Meat FX Indices – May ’22
Atten Babler Commodities LLC
11406 US Route 20 W
Galena, IL 61036
800-884-8290
Privacy Policy
Atten Babler Commodities, a DBA of Pinion Futures LLC is a CFTC registered Introducing Broker and NFA Member (NFA #0284447) is a fully owned subsidiary of Pinion Risk Management LLC. Information contained herein is believed to be reliable, but cannot be guaranteed as to its accuracy or completeness. Past performance is no guarantee of future results or profitability. Futures and options trading involve substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Clients may lose more than their initial investment. All information, communications, publications, and reports, including this specific material, used and distributed by PF shall be construed as a solicitation for entering into a derivatives transaction. PF does not distribute research reports, employ research analysts, or maintain a research department as defined in CFTC Regulation 1.71.


Atten Babler Insurance Services a DBA of Pinion Commodities Solutions LLC is an equal opportunity provider and employer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, martial status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment, or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities. This publication is brought to you by Atten Babler Insurance Services and is intended for informational purposes only. Nothing contained herein can or should be interpreted to take precedence over policy language, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation/Risk Management Agency regulation, and Underwriting or Loss Adjustment rules.
© Copyright 2025 Atten Babler Commodities LLC