With shipments now worth almost £5.1m, pork exports to Japan are up 54% on last year.
HMRC report between January and November 2022, 1,423 tonnes of pig produce was shipped to Japan, an increase on 1,333 tonnes in 2021.
AHDB are in Japan with six exporters at Asia’s largest food and drinks exhibition, Foodex, showcasing and promoting quality pork from the UK (along with beef and lamb) to potential importers with the aim of increasing shipments again this year. Japan imports around 60% of the food it consumes due to limited suitable agricultural land.
Head of Asia Pacific, Jonathan Eckley, said: “We are delighted to be returning to Japan for Foodex, one of the most important events in our export trade show calendar. This year marks the first time in three years that our team will be able to attend in person following the pandemic and we are excited to be able to reconnect with potential buyers in this important market.
“Japan is a growing market for our pork exports, steadily rising each year as demand for our high-quality meat continues to grow. We are keen to maximise on the opportunities that Japan offers and help our exporters grow their business through face-to-face meetings with importers and networking opportunities that AHDB has created.”