July 12, 2005

UK's pork imports on continual rise
 

UK's imports of pork and processed pork products increased by 2 percent in 2004 from the previous year, to reach 793,000 tonnes. This follows the 14 percent year-on-year rise in 2003, said a British Pig Executive (BPEX) report released on Jul 8.

Live pig imports also increased by a further 21 percent to 402,000 head in the same period.

In 2004, an estimated 60 percent-or 876,000 tonnes-of all the pig meat consumed in the UK was imported. However, it is estimated that at least two-thirds of these imports came from pigs do not conform to UK's minimum standards.

UK's Meat and Livestock Commission also estimates that most imported pork is processed in the UK into bacon and ham. However, some 59,000 tonnes of imported pork is estimated to have been sold directly through UK retail outlets. This represents a year-on-year increase of almost 50 percent.

BPEX also estimates that imported fresh pork sold by retailers now holds about 25 percent of the UK fresh pork market.