China is now the UK’s largest single export market for pork and pork products, generating sales worth just under £60 million in 2014.
“China is increasingly important to us,” said BPEX director, Mick Sloyan, adding that officials from the country will be visiting the UK shortly as part of “our plans to increase both the range and quantity of products we can export”.
“Parts of China have an increasingly urban population which means there are substantial niche markets for products such as bacon and pork pies. Many Chinese consumers have sampled products of this nature and opening a market for them will be the next phase.”
UK pork, offal and breeding stock, worth just under £60m, were sent to China last year, beating the much-heralded exports to the country of Scotch whisky, which totalled £53.6m.
Mr Sloyan added that BPEX believed further “substantial” export growth for pork and pork products into China is achievable.