EU exports of fresh/frozen pork totalled 160 thousand tonnes in August, 11% less than the same month last year.
As recorded throughout 2017, this is largely due to a fall in trade with China. Pig offal exports have also declined in August year-on-year. Exports of pig meat and offal have, however, remained above 2015 levels.
Although the quantity of fresh/frozen pork exports fell during August, the total value only recorded a fall of 3%, to approximately 398 million, helped by a 9% increase in the average prices per tonne. Trade with China has been slower throughout 2017, and in August recorded a year-on-year decline of 33%, to 53 thousand tonnes. Furthermore, the value of pork trade with China fell by 37%, to approximately 89 million, which means the value of EU exports to Japan was actually higher during the month of August. Although the value of EU shipments to Japan was higher the quantity was lower than China, at 30 thousand tonnes. Year-on-year, EU pork exports to Japan increased by 10%.
Looking to the rest of the world, EU shipments to the United States are continuing a trend recorded across the year and during August increased 102% year-on-year, to 9 thousand tonnes. Hong Kong and the Philippines also recorded rises of 22% and 35% respectively year-on-year.
The latest year-to-date (Jan-Aug) figures recorded pork exports total 1.36 million tonnes in 2017, which is 14% less than the same period in 2016. On the other hand though, these have been worth just 0.5% less than in 2016, at 3.4 billion tonnes, due to the price per tonne increasing.
Pig offal exports in August have also decreased, this time by 7% year-on-year, to 108 thousand tonnes. Exports to China were 18% less year-on-year at 58 thousand tonnes. For Hong Kong, the second largest destination for EU pig offal, shipments declined by 9% year on year to total 17 thousand tonnes during August. Offal exports to Japan increased by 177%, to 3.5 thousand tonnes. In the year-to-date, EU exports of pig offal have declined by 6% compared to 2016, to 845 thousand tonnes.
