Exports of pork from the UK amounted to 15,700t in January 2014, which was 15% more than the same month in 2013.
Reporting the figures in Pig Market Weekly, BPEX says there were higher volumes supplied to both EU and non-EU countries. The main growth market on the continent was Denmark, presumably for product destined for re-export.
China led growth in Asian markets, with shipments up 44% year on year to 2,400t, followed by Hong Kong and the Philippines.
Offal exports slowed, however, and were down by 31% compared with January 2013. The market particularly suffered from lower EU demand, which was especially high last year. In spite of the headline figure, supplies to China continued to grow, more than tripling to 1,400t.
Meanwhile, UK pork imports in January reached 29,600t, up 3% on 12 months ago. The strong import market was largely a result of higher shipments from Germany, up by nearly a third on last January.
This was the first time since September that Germany was the main supplier, accounting for over a quarter of UK imports. There was also a year-on-year increase in Dutch deliveries, but these were somewhat offset by 18% and 6% declines from Danish and Irish suppliers.
The total value of UK pork imports in January amounted to £61 million, up 7% on a year earlier. In addition to the higher volumes of pork imported, the unit price increased by about 4% in the past year, despite subdued EU pig prices.
Bacon imports during the month were 1% lower on the year at 19,100t, with the Dutch and the Danes the main contributors. However, bacon imports from Germany were reduced by a third on a year earlier. Sausage shipments were also down by 1% year-on-year, while imports of other processed products increased by a quarter compared with January 2013.