August 20, 2015

High pork prices prompted drops in French exports and sales

The pig industry in France is not showing signs that it could recover soon from its current crisis; this concern is further accentuated by declining exports and sales in the country, which dropped by 10% and 15%, respectively, during the first half of 2015 compared to the same period last year.

The volume of French pork exports amounted to 208,800 tonnes during the January-June period, 23,800 tonnes lesser than 2014's record, according to a report by AHDB Pork. Rising prices contributed to falling exports and affected sales in both the domestic and international markets. AHDB Pork said that prices for French pig have risen "more than most others in the EU" this year, and attributed the increase partially to the government's implementation of a US$1.56/kg target price in response to recent farmer protests. 

Dissatisfactions with high local pork prices reached a climatic point when the Brenton pork auction was forced to be cancelled recently after two major processors decided to boycott the event over an expected loss of competitive advantage against imported pork.

Pork imports to France slid 1% in the first half of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014. Spain is still the biggest supplier of the meat to the country.