Italy is the top net importer of pig meat in the EU, according to the German meat industry association, VDF.

The total amount of fresh and frozen pig meat imported by Italy in the first six months of 2013 was 463,000 tonnes or two per cent up from the same period of last year. The figure is well below the equivalent figure of 479,000 for 2011, however.

The majority of the imports originated in Germany, which accounted for slightly more than one-third of all Italian pork imports and these increased by 12 per cent to 157,300 tonnes. Volumes from other countries dropped markedly as a result.

Over the same time-frame, Italy's pig meat exports were down 14 per cent to 35,700 tonnes; the volume of ham exported was stable at 30,400 tonnes. The most important markets outside the EU are the US, Japan and Australia.

Nineteen per cent fewer live pigs were imported into Italy in the first half of 2013 at around 460,000. Piglet imports were down 21 per cent and slaughter pigs fell by 10 per cent.