December 31, 2003

 

 

Canadian Pork Exports Overtake Beef in 2002

 

Canadian pork far exceeded pre-mad cow beef in terms of exports with 800,000 tons compared to 300,000 tons of beef in 2002.

 

"We contribute two and a half times more to the Canadian economy than beef based on those figures," said Ed Schultz of Canada Pork International at Alberta Pork's annual meeting.

 

Pork is also king at the Vancouver Port Authority.

 

Fresh or frozen pork accounts for 53% of containerized refrigerated exports from the Vancouver port. In 2001, 508,211 tons of pork was exported from Vancouver, compared 25,593 tons of fresh or frozen beef.

 

"Pork has become the biggest item they handle," Schultz said.

 

"To the port authority people, the pork industry is a really major and considerable force."

 

Barbara Yandel, senior account representative with the Vancouver Port Authority, said pork is a key part of the port's refrigerated container cargo.

 

"Pork is by far the largest refer cargo."

 

Yandel said refrigerated cargo has doubled between 1998 and 2002.

 

Schultz said he tells everyone he talks to about pork's importance to the Canadian economy and he thinks Alberta's 1,450 pork producers should do the same.

 

"We have to work harder to promote ourselves."

 

Much of the success can be credited to Canada Pork International, which the Canadian Pork Council and the Canadian Meat Council created in 1991 to develop an export pork market not dependent on the United States. At the time, Canada exported 80 - 85 % of its pork to the U.S., but that has since dropped to 50%. Most of the expansion has been to the growing Asian market.

 

However, Canada is once again attracting the attention of American hog producers as they watch more Canadian hogs entering their country.

 

Increased consumer support for beef in Canada since the BSE crisis began has forced Canadian hog producers to export more live animals to the U.S. American analysts estimate hog prices have dropped five percent because of the extra Canadian hogs.

 

Part of the trick to selling pork to the U.S. is to limit live animals, Schultz said. A solid box truck doesn't attract the attention of American hog producers as much as live animals in trucks.

 

"It would be better if everything went in a box."