Spanish pork exports are currently more than double the level being recorded a decade ago, with the last six months maintaining a strong growth trend for the country’s pig producers, according to AHDB Pork.
For the first half of 2015, Spanish pork shipments rose to a record 584,600 tonnes, 15% up on a year earlier. In the midst of this expansion of exports, however, Spanish pigmeat finding its way onto the UK market has remained static over the last 12 months at just over 19,000 tonnes.
“Growth is mainly being driven by rising domestic production at a time when the Spanish consumer market remains subdued following the economic difficulties of recent years,” said AHDB Pork, adding that the majority of the country’s increased output has therefore found its way onto export markets.
The strongest growth in export sales was recorded to China, up by more than a half, and South Korea, up by three-quarters.
Unit prices for exported Spanish pork, meanwhile, were 7% lower for January-June, 2015, than in the same period in 2014.