The UK imported 3% less pork in January than a year before, despite the growing gap between EU and UK prices due to the weakening of the Euro, according to BPEX.
Lower imports were recorded from Germany, Ireland and France during the month, it was revealed in figures released by HMRC. Denmark, meanwhile, retained over a quarter share of the market and increased the volume of pork it delivered to the UK in January by 5%. There was also a significant increase in Polish pork imports.
The same HMRC figures also revealed a January decline in UK pork exports, however, which fell 7% on the year. With unit prices dropping by 12%, this left the month’s total export value at £14.5 million.
“The UK was competing with supplies from across Europe on Asian markets, as a result of the loss of the Russian market,” said BPEX, pointing to a 42% reduction in shipments to China and a 50% fall in supplies going to Hong Kong.
“Also, as US production recovers from PEDv, UK exports to that market were down 13% on the year.”
Exports to the rest of the EU were little changed from January 2014, however, despite the increased gap between pig prices at home and on the continent.
