November 16, 2012

Finland's pork imports up one third in Jan-Aug 2012

In January-August 2012, pork imports to Finland rose by one third on-year according to Customs statistics.

Domestic production fell by about 5% in January-September 2012, according to Gallup Food and Farm Facts. The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) organised a campaign in Helsinki on November 14, 2012 to show consumers how small the share received by producers is of the whole price paid by consumers.

The organisation sold pork at EUR1.6 (US$2) per kilogramme, which is the price paid to pig farmers. The price in shops is over EUR8 (US$10) per kilogramme. Retail chain S Group says that MTK is spreading wrong information about the share received by the retail and industrial sectors. The group's representative points out that the meat chain has people who cut, pack, and transport the products.