Dutch pork exports increased by 8% year on year during the first nine months of 2015 although producers still saw total export earnings fall by 4% in comparison to 2014, according to AHDB Pork.
While the Dutch industry still depends heavily on shipments to other EU countries, it is seeing a strong rise in exports to non-EU outlets, although from a low base, in many cases.
“Outside the EU, China was the main growth market, with volumes increasing more than six-fold,” said AHDB Pork. “Korea also recorded an increase of 46% compared to the same point in 2014, while Australia imported 34% more Dutch pork than the year before at 13,900 tonnes.”
The growth in fresh and frozen pork exports from the Netherlands, which has risen by 100,000 tonnes since 2013, is balanced by a sharp decline in live pig exports, which reduced by 41% to 4 million head in 2014 (all January-September figures).