Spanish pork exporters achieved a 28% increase in deliveries to non-EU markets in the first nine months of this year, boosting the country’s total pork export figure by 5%, according to BPEX.
The Spanish industry appears to have gained from the fact that, unlike most EU producers, the country’s access to the Russian market for pigmeat was already somewhat restricted before the beginning of this year, giving them reason for an early start on seeking replacement business.
“Latest Spanish pork export figures for January to September show a 5% increase in trade, as volumes increased to 759,400 tonnes,” said BPEX, while also pointing out that the improved 2014 picture was still down on performance in the first nine months of 2012.
Around three quarter of Spanish exports are placed within the European market, with France taking the largest share at 186,500 tonnes. This figure, while still impressive in 2014, is running 6% behind 2013 performance, due to a subdued demand for pork on the French market, coupled with good French production levels.
Spain’s non-EU exports growth is based on shipments to Japan in the first nine months of this year “more than doubling” while exports to China increased by 27%. Trade with South Korea and the Philippines also more than doubled, leaving the value of Spain’s pork exports between January and September 2014 at the equivalent of £1.4 billion, up 7% on the year in value terms.
