Pork exports from the European Union increased by 11% year-on-year in July 2013 to 147,500 tonnes
According to BPEX, supplies to the leading market, Russia, were up by almost half from July 2012 as the EU continued to fill the gap left by Russian restrictions on other suppliers. Growth was also driven by a 27% rise in exports to China, which largely consisted of frozen pork. Hong Kong was in a similar position, with exports increasing by 34%.
In contrast, Japan and South Korea reduced purchases by 1% and 10% respectively. These two countries are generally taking less product from global markets as their domestic supplies have recovered from the shortfalls in previous years.
Total pork exports in the first seven months of this year were 925,000 tonnes, almost unchanged from the same period in 2012. The value of these supplies edged down to just under £1.9 billion.
Pig offal exports declined by 6% compared with July 2012 to 84,100 tonnes, and were also 8% down from the same month in 2011.
The reduction was largely a result of a 16% decline in purchases by the Chinese market, although supplies to Hong Kong were marginally up. Together, these two market account for 69% of the overall EU offal export trade.
The third largest market, Russia, also saw offal exports ease by 4% on the year, whie the Philippines market continued to re-emerge, accounting for nearly 5% of shipments in July.
