UK pork exports soar 20 percent on new markets

British pork exports have recorded a year-on-year rise of over 20 percent.

Farming UK reported a 22-percent increase of 41,000 tonnes in pork exports for the first four months of 2008 as compared to the same period last year.

A reason for the steady growth may be the increased number of export markets. Key export markets for British pork now include Germany, Holland, Poland, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

British Pig Executive (BPEX) Export Manager Jean-Pierre Garnier said that while the exchange rate contributed to the increase, the hard work of exporters made the strong performance possible.

Earlier in January, UK sealed pork export agreements with China.

The lifting of an import ban by Japan in May have also helped in boosting export sales. Japan banned British pork in August 2007 due to occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease in southern England.