August 21, 2017

Japan and South Korea have become increasingly important outlets for the global pork market as both reported year-on-year increases in fresh/frozen pork imports in the first half while Chinese import demand slowed in the second quarter, AHDB Pork said.

During the first six months, Japan imported 459,000 tonnes of pork, or 7% more than in the same period last year. Shipments from Canada in particular were 19% higher year-on-year. Key suppliers EU and the US posted more modest increases of 3% and 4% respectively. The expansion in EU shipments was largely driven by increasing imports from Spain in the second quarter.

South Korea's fresh/frozen pork imports increased 12% on 2016 in the first half to 257,000 tonnes. Disease outbreaks in both the beef and poultry sectors have reportedly boosted demand for pig meat this year.

Over half of South Korea's pork import requirements were provided by the EU. Volumes from Germany and the Netherlands were up 46% and 58% respectively. Shipments from the UK were also 50% higher than a year earlier.