Iowa pork exports exceeded the $1 billion mark within the first 11 months of 2010, according to the Iowa Department of Economic Development. 

The data has not yet been released for December 2010.

This is the first time Iowa has ever exported more than $1 billion of pork, the exact number being $1,005,022,505.

Iowa now accounts for 24 percent of all U.S. pork production; that number is five times greater than the 1998 statistics.

Gov. Terry Branstad said in a news release he is excited about the numbers.

“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.”

Last year, Iowa exported pork to 43 countries, the most going to Japan, Mexico, Canada, China and Russia.