September 21, 2005

Dutch pig meat exports on the rise

Dutch pig meat export figures are on the rise, according to provisional figures by the country's Product Boards for Livestock, Meat, and Eggs (PVE).

Dutch pig meat exports increased to 536,000 tonnes during January-August this year, a 9-percent rise from the same period last year.

The growth is mainly attributed to an export rise to Poland, Hungary and other accession EU countries, amounting to an overall rise from 13,000 to 27,000 tonnes.

Export of Dutch hams to Italy also increased - the amount of ham exported so far rose by 13,000 tonnes, pushing up the number to 134,000 tonnes.

Exports to the UK rose by 10,000 tonnes to 151,000 tonnes. This was mainly due to an increase in bacon exports, which were up by 5 percent to 110,000 tonnes so far.

In the meantime, companies in the Dutch meat industry are also becoming more and more internationally focused, according to the Dutch Meat Board, pointing out Dutch agricultural company Sovion's recent acquisition of German meat processing and trading company Sudfleisch.

The rise in exports and industry changes also came at a time of a major shake-up in the Dutch Meat Board. The future of the board, the marketing arm for the Dutch meat sector in the Netherlands, and the role of the board in the UK, are being re-assessed.