EU exports of pig meat products (including offal) to third countries (non-EU member states) grew by 5% year-on-year in the first quarter, according to latest figures from the European Commission as compiled by AHDB Pork.

The pork division of the UK Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board said that an increase in shipments of fresh/frozen pork was the main driver behind the overall rise in exports of pig meat.

A rise in demand for pig meat from Hong Kong (+12%), Japan (+9%) and South Korea (+38%), was also noted. It outweighed a year-on-year decline in volumes shipped to the EU's largest destination, China (-3%).

Shipments of fresh/frozen pork were 9% higher than in the first quarter of 2016, with volumes to both Hong Kong and South Korea increasing by around a third year-on-year. Exports to the US were also up 13%, while Japan showed a more modest 4% growth. Conversely, shipments to China were down 2% compared with the same period in 2016.