December 5, 2016

 

Irish pork exports slow down in 3rd quarter

 

 

Irish fresh/frozen pork exports in the first three quarters rose 13% to 139,100 tonnes from the previous year.

 

Third-quarter volumes, however, slid 1% compared with the same period last year, as the extent of the growth derived from the expanding Chinese market slowed, AHDB Pork reported.

 

Shipments to Denmark, usually for re-export to the Far East, were up sharply during the first half of the year, but deteriorated to a year-on-year drop of 23% in the latest three months.

 

Meanwhile, shipments to Germany, which largely consists of carcases, were below the 2015 levels.

 

Citing data provided by Central Statistics Office Ireland, the pork division of the UK Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board reported that volumes of Irish pork shipped to the UK in the first three quarters were up 6% year-on-year to 44,000 tonnes. Positive growth continued into the third quarter, despite the devaluation of sterling decreasing the price competitiveness of Irish pork against UK domestic product since July. "This was likely influenced by the reduced production of pig meat in the UK", AHDB Pork said.

 

Imports

 

Ireland's importation of fresh/frozen pork during the first nine months declined 11% to 26,700 tonnes from the same period in 2015. Despite the overall decline, shipments from the UK grew during this period. However, the trend in UK shipments was reversed in the third quarter, despite the weak pound reducing unit prices in euro terms. "Tightening supplies may have limited UK export potential", AHDB Pork explained.

 

Shipments from Spain showed notable growth, while imports from the Netherlands and Denmark decreased significantly.
 
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