Japan pork imports fall 6% in 1st 3 quarters
As pork production increases after recovery from last year's outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, or PEDv, Japan imported less pork during the first nine months, data showed.
Japanese pork imports during first three quarters recorded a 6% decrease to 581,300 tonnes whilst total value of imports of fresh and frozen pork fell by 7% to ¥314 billion (US$2.59 billion), according to a report by the AHDB Pork, a division of the UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.
The AHDB Pork said that during the third quarter alone, pork import volumes were down 9% to 201,000 tonnes compared with the same period last year.
Last year, when PEDv outbreaks struck Japan, which is the world's leading buyer of imported pork, import demand reached high levels, AHDB Pork said.
Less imports from EU
During the third quarter, imports from the EU fell by nearly a quarter year-on-year to 72,200 tonnes. This was predominantly driven by Denmark and Spain, which both recorded declines of 17% and 18% respectively.
There was, however, a marginal increase in pork imports from non-EU countries, particularly Mexico and Canada. Compared with the July-September period in 2014, shipments from Canada increased by 22% and Mexico by 7%.