Smithfield, (although US based, ownership is more than likely from elsewhere) is highly vertically integrated from the genetics on up....I believe their long term plan is getting products produced closer to final markets, including but not limited to China.  I imagine shipping finished products from midwestern production centers to export has proven to be costly and at the will and whims of rail and oil....so they are covering their rear ends.  I would consider it unlikely that they would be importing standing pork or beef into east coast production centric locations.  I consider this primarily a "cover my ass" export terminal.

Gott....you could be right, but in the big picture of markets, the risk of financial paper markets, is likely to lose more of it's luster in the near future, again driving deep pocket $ into physical, consumable, commodities while driving down fixed, non-income producing asset value. Just my take...