March 12, 2007

 

Canadian pork exports rise slightly but value falls in 2006
 

 

Canada Pork International reports the volume of Canadian pork sold into the export market increased marginally in 2006 from 2005 but its value was down substantially.

 

The volume of Canadian pork exports in 2006 reached one million 37 thousand tonnes, just seven thousand tonnes more than in 2005.

 

However the value of pork fell more than 10 percent to 2.5 billion Canadian dollars, primarily as the result of the rising value of the Canadian currency.

 

Canada Pork International executive director Jacques Pomerleau says there were also several changes in destination.

 

Pomerleau said the country lost the markets of Romania and Bulgaria when it joined the European Union at the end of 2006.

 

Exports to Romania last year amounted for almost 75 million Canadian dollars, said Pomerleau.

 

According to Pomerleau, the pork industry was surprised over Russia in 2006 as it accounted 90,000 tonnes of Canadian pork worth 150 million dollars, gaining one hundred million dollars more than the previous year. 

 

For the third year in a row, Canadian pork exports to the US and Mexico also plunged, noted Pomerleau, and the US represents less than 35 percent of its total exports in volume.

 

Japan has dropped by about ten percent but is still Canada's second best year said Pomerleau as this is due to the fact that beef is coming back to the Japanese market.

 

Pomerleau notes Canada Pork International continues to pursue efforts to add value to Canada's pork exports.

 

He said the agency is running a generic promotion in Japan on chilled pork and will be starting promotions of chilled pork in Korea and Singapore.

 

Pomerleau said they are also planning to break into other markets such as Vietnam and India.