Factors, including the potential loss of the Romanian market, which was worth about C$50 million of products last year, will prove maintaining the same levels of return difficult, said Canada Pork International Assistant Executive Director Martin Lavoie.

Canada sells to the Romanian market with the best dollar a kilogram ratio, after the US, Japan and Australia. However, Romania will be assuming EU import requirements in June this year, which will affect Canadian exports.

Lavoie said the value of the Romanian market is very close to that of China. Canada exports 20 thousand tonnes of pork to Romania and about 38 thousand tonnes to China annually.

He added that production is increasing and 2006 will likely see another volume record. However, he is unsure whether the value will keep up.

More pork will be sold on the export market but not necessarily into high-paying markets such as Romania, he said.

Source: eFeedLink - 13th January 2006