January 12, 2006

Canadian pork exports reaches new heights

Exports of Canadian pork set another record in 2005, driven partly by increased sales to Japan, Canada Pork International reported. Canadian pork exports increased by ten percent and topped the one million tonne export mark for the first time, reaching a value of about C$2.8 billion in the first ten months of the year.

Exports to the US fell 20 percent but the huge increase in exports to Japan more than made up for it, according to Canada Pork International Assistant Executive Director Martin Lavoie.

Exports to the US were C$976 million for the first ten months of 2005 compared with C$874 million for exports to Japan, indicating the presence of two key markets for Canadian pork.

Australia, Korea and Romania are the other major markets for Canadian pork. Romania accounts for about C$50 million worth of product but that market will be lost when it makes the transition to EU import requirements at the end of June, said Lavoie. While he is hopeful a new equivalency agreement with the EU may offset part of that loss, he is doubtful it will fully compensate.