March 3, 2014

Just before the start of the last outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), UK exported more pork last year than at any time since 2000, where total exports of pork and pork products hit 256,000 tonnes, which was worth more than £325 million (US$544 million).

The biggest single market was Greater China, including Hong Kong, which took 57,000 tonnes.

Peter Hardwick, British Pig Executive (BPEX) international manager, said the increase was largely due to the efforts of BPEX, in conjunction with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), to open new markets, particularly outside the EU. China was the highlight, but last year also saw re-invigorated trade with Japan.

Hardwick said: "We believe there is considerable scope for this to grow further as we increase the number of approved export plants and hope shortly to reach agreement on the export of pigs trotters, which are estimated to represent 40% of the trade to China. We are also working on opening other markets across South East Asia as well as Russia."