September 17, 2015

UK's pork imports spike 10% in July 2015 as exports drop

Pork imports for the UK had recorded a 10% increase year-on-year at 32,100 tonnes, based on the most recent HMRC trade data. The volume is also the highest since December 2014.

Deliveries from Denmark, the country's biggest supplier, constituted most of the increase, with a 14% spike in volumes.

While shipments from Belgium, Ireland and Spain demonstrated an upward trend (3%, 18% and 47%, respectively), drops were seen in volumes from Germany (6%) and the Netherlands (2%). On the other hand, Poland boasted an impressive increase of 115% in July.

In the January - July period of 2015, imports were 1% higher than the same period last year. However, overall value of imports dipped by 15% at US$537 million.

Along with bacon, processed pork imports dropped in July 2015, both by 2% year-on-year.

For UK's pork exports, deliveries fell 7% in July to 15,200 tonnes, due mostly to lower shipments to China (a 35% drop year-on-year) coupled with economic difficulties in the mainland. Still, China is also the key contributor to the recovery of the UK's offal exports in the same month, with imports rising by 134% at 2,600 tonnes.

In July once more, pork deliveries to Germany swelled by 13%, compared to July 2014. Furthermore, this year's overall international exports increased 1% year-on-year at 103,000 tonnes.

However, export values also declined during the first seven months of 2015; a 10% drop year-on-year was observed at US$163 million due to lower unit prices.