Total exports of pork and pork products in 2013 hit 256,000 tonnes (product weight), very similar to the level for 2000 with a total value of more than £325 million.

The biggest single market was Greater China (including Hong Kong), which took 57,000 tonnes.

BPEX International Manager, Peter Hardwick, said: “This increase in exports is extremely gratifying and is to a great extent due to the efforts of BPEX, in conjunction with DEFRA, to open new markets especially outside the EU with China being the highlight, although last year also saw a re-invigorated trade with Japan.

“We believe there is considerable scope for this to grow further as we increase the number of approved export plants and hope shortly to reach agreement on the export of pigs trotters which are estimated to represent 40 per cent of the trade to China.

“We are also working on opening other markets across South East Asia as well as Russia.”