April 9, 2007

Chile's pork exports up 45 percent 

The value of Chile's pork exports jumped 45 percent in the first two months of 2007, while their volume increased 38.6 percent, the national agricultural policy and research office ODEPA said on April 5, 2007.

The agency did not release specific figures.

Japan and South Korea were the largest destinations for Chilean pork exports, and the exports to Germany, Italy and the UK registered strong rises in percent. Chile expects the agreement signed with Japan in 2006, which grants preference import duty for Chilean pork, to boost the pork exports to the Japanese market.

In 2006 Chile exported 99,670 tonnes of pork for US$311.6 million (EUR 232.9 million euro), up 1.8 percent year-on-year in volume and up 5.5 percent year-on-year in value. In 2006 the pork exports were destined to Japan, with 49,404 tonnes, and South Korea, with 24,180 tonnes. Japan and South Korea accounted for some 80 percent of the total pork exports.

Chile's pork exports rose 50 percent in the period from 2000 to 2005.