Canadian Pork Exports Rise Marginally But Value Falls in 2006
CANADA - Canada Pork International reports the volume of Canadian pork sold into the export market increased marginally in 2006 over 2005 but the value of the product was down substantially, writes Bruce Cochrane.The volume of Canadian pork exports in 2006 reached one million 37 thousand tonnes, just seven thousand tonnes more than in 2005.
However the value of that pork fell more than 10 percent to 2.5 billion dollar, primarily as the result of the rising value of the Canadian dollar..
Canada Pork International executive director Jacques Pomerleau says there were also several changes in destination.
Jacques Pomerleau--Canada Pork International
Basically, at the end of 2006 we lost the Romanian market when Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union.
Romania last year amounted for almost 75 million dollars, so now it's gone.
The surprise for last year is Russia.
Russia, as of 2006, we had exported over 90 thousand tonnes worth close to 150 million dollars which is one hundred million dollar more than the previous year.
For the third year in a row our exports to the U.S. and Mexico have come down and now the U.S. represents less than 35 percent of our total exports in volume.
Japan has dropped by about ten percent but still it's our second best year ever and we have to keep in mind that this due to the fact that beef is coming back to the market.
Pomerleau notes Canada Pork International continues to pursue efforts to add value to Canada's pork exports.
He says the agency is running a generic promotion in Japan on chilled pork and will be starting promotions of chilled pork in Korea and Singapore.
He says, at the same time other markets are opening up like Vietnam and there will be a major promotional event there in April and, in the longer term the agency would like to break into India.