July 19, 2016
EU pork production up 5% in April
EU pig meat production in April increased year-on-year by 5% to 1.95 million tonnes, according to provisional figures from the EU Commission, AHDB Pork said.
Clean pig slaughterings were also up in April by 4% to 21.4 million head compared with the same month in 2015. EU production levels were forecast to rise slightly in the first half of 2016, in line with expectations.
"These production movements may suggest that member states are capitalising on the strong export demand created by the Chinese and Far East markets", the pork division of the UK Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board said.
There were fluctuations in pork production levels from the member states. German production increased 7% year-on-year, while Spanish production increased by 14% over the same period. The Netherlands recorded a more modest increase in production, at 3%, while Denmark posted a 2% decrease in production levels.
