August 29, 2016

Spanish pork exports post 29% growth in H1

Spanish pork exports increased 29% to 752,000 tonnes during the first half of the year, AHDB Pork reported, citing statistics from Spain's Tax Agency.

The increase was spearheaded by exports to China, whose volume trebled (8%) from the same period in 2015, and which accounted for 20% of all Spanish pork exports.

Intra-EU exports also rose, by 7%, in the first six months, with Italian and Polish shipments increasing 10% and 64%, respectively, on the same period last year. This growth was somewhat mitigated by falls in shipments to France and Portugal by 13% and 21%, respectively.

The value of Spanish exports grew 18% to €1,515 million during the first half, although behind volume growth rates. Much of this value growth could also be attributed to the strong Chinese demand, with the Chinese pig prices registering record highs during the six-month period, the pork division of the UK's Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board said.

Despite the increasing European pig price, the value of EU trade was down 3% compared with the same period in 2015. However, this period saw low EU pig prices during the first quarter.