This compares with the volumes exported by France for the January to June periods in 2012 and 2013 at 236,400 and 231,500 tonnes, respectively, according to the German meat association, VDF.

In that period of 2014, French pork deliveries to other EU countries were also up by 0.6 per cent at 182,500 tonnes, so that exports to other member states accounted for 78 per cent of the total. The most important destination for French pig meat was Italy, which took 58,500 tonnes. This was 3.7 per cent more than in the same period of 2013 and makes up more than one quarter of the EU total.

Exports to other countries for the first six months of 2014 were up just 0.8 per cent at 50,500 tonnes. While 1,600 tonnes less French pig meat went to China over this period, a fall of 10.7 per cent, almost 17 per cent (1,500 tonnes) more French pig meat was taken by the Philippines, bringing the totals to 13,300 and 9,900 tonnes, respectively.

The total value of French pig meat exports for the period were one per cent higher than the previous year at €433.2 million.

French imports of fresh and frozen pork for the first six months of 2014 fell by 0.8 per cent to 182,500 tonnes.

Spain easily retained its top supplier position with 128,900 tonnes but this represents a fall of 2,800 tonnes or 2.1 per cent from the corresponding period last year. The volumes of imports from Germany increased slightly to 24,600 tonnes.