The UK’s strong pork export performance continued in November, with volumes up 8% compared with a year before.
BPEX’s Pig Market Weekly reports that shipments to China reached a record 3,300 tonnes, more than 40% up on the year, making it the largest market during the month for the first time since April.
However, this was offset by a fall in exports to Hong Kong, with overall shipments to the region little changed.
Volumes sent to other EU Member States, which made up over 60% of the total, were up 9% year on year. Exports of cured and processed pig meat were also higher than last year, but offal shipments were only about half their level in November 2012. This was due to a collapse in EU sales, with shipments to Greater China and other non-EU markets higher.
In contrast, pork imports were 9% down on the year. As has been the case for much of 2013, tight supplies in Denmark led to a 22% fall in shipments, although it remained the leading supplier.
This was partly offset by a rise in imports from Germany, where pigs were more plentiful. Denmark and Germany both shipped more bacon/ham to the UK in November 2013, leading to a 5% rise in overall shipments.
The other major supplier, the Netherlands, sent less bacon to the UK.
Processed pig meat imports were lower, with a particularly sharp fall for sausages.