UK Pigmeat export volumes, including offal, fell by 20% last year to 298,000 tonnes, as a result of lower UK production and subdued demand in Asia.
The value of pigmeat shipments fell by a lower proportion, 9% to £570 million, due to higher prices.
Most export categories were down, with fresh and frozen export volumes plummeting by 30% to 130,000t, bacon exports by 21% to 13,400t, although values were only slightly down, and sausages volumes by 12% to 4,600t, as the value of these shipments rose. The exception was processed hams, shoulders and other pieces, which were up by 4% in volume.
Offal shipments were down 8% to 133,000t and accounted for 45% of pigmeat export volumes, the highest share.Â
Overall red meat exports from the UK in 2023 were worth £1.7 billion, similar to 2022, largely driven by strong demand for UK lamb on international markets.
The total value of red meat shipments to the EU during the period was up 2% on the year at £1.3 billion while volumes fell by 12% on the year.
Sheep meat exports to France, the UK’s largest market, increased by 23% in value to £292 million and 23% in volume on the year to 45,000 tonnes. Beef exports decreased by 15% in volume and 9% in value.Â
Jonathan Eckley, AHDB Head of International Trade Development, said: “While we should rightly celebrate the success of sheep meat exports in 2023, it’s also important to recognise the challenges that have faced the beef and pig meat sectors. Lower production and subdued demand from Asia has undoubtedly impacted the pig meat sector.
“The beef sector has experienced similar challenges in terms of falling production, although exports of beef offal to non-EU markets were encouraging. However, exports still returned significant added value to the pork and beef sectors here in the UK, adding £570 million and £583 million respectively.”
Pigmeat imports
Imports of pigmeat to the UK were down by 2.4% over the whole 2023, totalling 781,600 tonnes, although that was all weighted towards a big year-on-year reduction over the first four months of 2023.
From May to December, pigmeat imports were up 4% to 536,000t, led by a 15% increase on fresh and frozen imports to 229,000t. However, in December, import volumes were slightly down year-on-year.
Meanwhile, the latest AHDB Porkwatch survey, which showed he proportion of British products on retail shelves fell back across all four categories in January.
Across the 10 retailers surveyed, the proportion of British pork facings was down from 89% in November to 88%, bacon was down from 54% to 52%, ham from 64% to 61% and sausage from 77% to 76%.