The latest trade data from HMRC shows UK fresh/frozen pork exports in 2019 rose by 12% on the year to 244,000 tonnes, while imports were down 2% to 447,800 tonnes.
Exports
Overall exports of fresh/frozen pork for 2019 reached just over 244,400 tonnes, up 12% on 2018. UK pork exports increased again in December year-on-year, up 1,500 tonnes (9%) to 17,600 tonnes on the same month in 2018.
Overall fresh/frozen pork prices averaged £1.93/kg for the month, similar to November, but up 48p (+33%) from December 2018. Export prices to China down on the previous month, also averaging £1.93/kg. This was 74p (+62%) up from December 2018.
Shipments to China during December continued the trend of recent months, doubling in size year-on-year to total 7,400 tonnes. This was, however, down from 10,800 tonnes exported to China in November 2019. Shipments to China for the full year of 2019 doubled on the year before, totalling 81,400 tonnes.
Shipments to the EU overall were down on the year, although there were mixed movements for individual markets. Exports to the Netherlands also grew on the year by 58%, possibly as some UK products are exported on from there to other destinations.
Shipments to other EU countries like Ireland and Germany remained flat in comparison. Overall, shipments to the EU were down 6% from 2018.
Imports
Import prices rose throughout 2019, with the December average for fresh/frozen pork up 50p/kg on the year at £2.40/kg. UK imports of fresh/frozen pork in December remained stable year-on-year, rising by 0.2% to 36,300 tonnes.
AHDB analyst Hannah Clarke said: “There were noticeable declines in imports of other pig meat products, meaning total pig meat imports were down 8% overall.
“This brought fresh/frozen pork imports for the full year to 447,800 tonnes, down 2% from 2018. Again, larger declines were seen for further processed products, meaning total pig meat imports were back 7% for the year overall.”
