Tyson Foods Inc. cut back its profit projections for 2018, as tariffs and trade uncertainties take a toll on its export market.
The largest U.S. meat producer predicts its earnings for fiscal 2018 (excluding one-time items) to be about $5.70 to $6 a share - compared with a previous forecast of $6.55 to $6.70. While tariffs slapped by China and Mexico on American pork (following U.S. levies on imported steel and aluminum) pose headwinds to its meat export market, Tyson is also hurting from slowing domestic demand for chicken and commodity market volatility.
It is a challenging environment for U.S. meat producers like Tyson, as the export-heavy industry is undergoing a surge in production (and therefore potentially more surplus to be unloaded) amid global trade tensions.
Tyson Foods' Chief Executive Officer Tom Hayes has expressed that the company would be seeking pricing and cost management strategies to offset the effects of freight and feed ingredient costs.