October 19, 2007

New agreement may herald expanded pork exports from Denmark to China

A new cooperation agreement signed between China and the Danish Bacon and Meat Council (Danske Slagterier) may soon allow Denmark to expand pork exports to the country.

So far, China has mainly imported pig by-products such as pigs' trotters, ears and snouts from Denmark. These are regarded as delicacies in China. However, as pig diseases and declining farmer interest in pig farming affected supplies, foreign pork suppliers such as Canada and the US are hoping to cash in to offer higher-priced cuts.

A Chinese agency recently ordered 30,000 tonnes of pork from Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the US.

Export of Danish pig by-products to China doubled in the first half of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. Total Danish pork exports to China amounted to 50,774 tones in 2006.

During the talks, Chinese authorities expressed their wish for tighter cooperation with the Danish pig farming sector on food safety and trade issues.

The Chinese authorities also pledged to support the Danish pig farming sector in its efforts to increase its sales to the Chinese market.

The Danish Bacon and Meat Council is an umbrella organisation for two co-operative slaughterhouses Danish Crown and Tican.