October 29, 2013

Dutch pig meat exports increase in H1 2013

After a sharp decline in 2012, exports of fresh and frozen pig meat in Netherlands are reported to drop again by around 8%, in the first half of 2013.

The drop was most pronounced in volume to the UK, which was down 18%. Deliveries to Italy were down by 4.4%, while those to Germany, the Netherland's second most import market, were 12% lower.

Pig meat exports to non-EU countries dropped 5%, mainly as result of lower volumes destined for South Korea, Singapore and Australia. Exports to Hong Kong and Russia increased.

Live pig exports from the Netherlands rose 7%, which contributed to a fall in total pig meat production. Most of the trade was in weaners to Germany.

Italy took almost 25% more live pigs over the period than in 2012. There was a sharp increase in live exports to Spain.