March 18, 2020

 

UK pork exports remain strong in January; imports down 12%

 

 

Following 12 months of consecutive growth, UK pig meat exports (including offal) were up on the year again in January, with primary pork exports increasing 10% and frozen pork up 17%, the levy body Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board reported on Wednesday, March 18.

 

Growth in shipments to China reached 12,300 tonnes during the month and continued to dominate the overall trend. This was more than 50% higher than in January last year, although shipments remained a few thousand tonnes behind the peak volumes seen in October and November 2019.

 

Average export price was £1.73 (US$ 2.07) per kilogramme, 21% above year-earlier levels, but less than the £1.90 ($2.27)/kg at the end of 2019.

 

The average price of product going to China fell from £1.87 ($2.23)/kg in December to £1.59 ($1.89)/kg in January as Chinese import demand eased with the release of Chinese pork stocks and high import volumes in the previous months.

 

UK pig meat imports in January, meanwhile, were down 12% year-on-year as all the key suppliers reduced shipments. Shipments from France, though, were nearly a quarter higher than last January. Last year, imports were boosted by stockpiling efforts due to the risk of a no-deal Brexit at the end of March.

 

Most of the decline was driven by fresh/frozen pork shipments, which were 14% lower than in January last year. Processed pig meat imports also fell significantly.

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