March 23, 2017

EU pork exports on a roll

European fresh and frozen pork exports started the new year strongly as volumes in January increased more than 20% to 187,300 tonnes compared with the same month last year, AHDB Pork said.

The pork division of the UK Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board said that the value of the January exports was also higher, by 34%, totalling €447 million (US$482.63 million) compared with January 2016.

The strong start comes after a successful 2016, AHDB noted.

China was the main driver of overall EU export growth as shipments to the world's second-biggest economy were up nearly 27% compared with January 2016.

Exports to Australia and some Asian countries including Hong Kong and South Korea also increased. In contrast, the US imported nearly 20% less than in January 2016 at only 6,300 tonnes.

EU exports of offal increased nearly 14% compared with January last year, chiefly driven by a 25% rise in volumes shipped to China. China and Hong Kong combined imported 92,400 tonnes of EU offal in January, making up over three quarters of Europe's export market for offal in that month. The total monthly export volume from the EU was 120,900 tonnes.