Danish pork exports increased by 6% year-on-year in the first three months of 2015 but suffered a 5% decline in total value.
According to AHDB Pork, Danish pork exports reached a first quarter total of 292,000 tonnes, 6% up on the same period in 2014. At the same time, the country’s producers saw their pigmeat export earnings fall to the equivalent of just over £410m, a decline of 5% on the year.
Germany was the largest single market for Danish pork at 32% of total exports, with shipments to Poland, Italy and the UK coming in at 12%, 20% and 19% respectively.
“Exports to non-EU markets increased by 1% despite a decline in volumes going to the largest such market, Japan, where shipments fell by 21% compared to 2014,” added AHDB Pork. “The main increase in purchases came from Australia, with volumes up 60% year-on-year, and smaller Asian markets such as South Korea and Taiwan. Shipments to China fell by 4%.”
On the live pig export front, which has been a persistent challenge for the country’s meat companies, the first three months of 2015 produced a 15% rise in Danish export numbers.
“During the quarter, over 3.2m pigs were exported, with 96% being weaners,” said AHDB Pork. “Germany remained the largest importer of Danish live pigs, with numbers up by 9%. However, Poland remains the major growth market, with shipments increasing by over a third.”
In keeping with the value decline suffered by the deadweight trade, the overall value of Danish live pig exports also fell, this time by 8% year-on-year.