After a 15 per cent reduction in Danish pork exports last year, a further fall has taken place in the first half of 2013, according to the German meat industry association, VDF. The total volume was down by 3.3 per cent to around 545,000 tonnes

Deliveries to Germany - the top destination for Danish pig meat - were down 2.4 per cent at around 397,000 tonnes. Exports to Poland were just 0.3 per cent higher than the same period last year, while the tonnage to the UK decreased by 5.2 per cent.

There was a reduction of 5.6 per cent in pork exports to third-countries (outside the EU) to 148,000 tonnes. Japan - the main market in this group - received 17.3 per cent less Danish pork in the first half-year of 2013 than in the year before and exports to Russia were greatly reduced (-24 per cent).

Compared to the same period of last year, exports of Danish bacon - most of which goes to the UK - were down 16 per cent to 40,500 tonnes for the first six months of 2013.

Total exports of Danish processed pig meat were unchanged, a six per cent reduction in volume to the UK and Germany being made up by higher volumes to third-countries.

Exports of live pigs during the first half of the year were up by six per cent to 5.3 million animals. Germany remains easily the top destination for this trade, taking almost 3.4 million head but the number is down around one per cent from the same period of 2012. Deliveries to Poland were up by 47 per cent over the period to more than 1.33 million.