Imports in the first six month of the year fell to 380,200 tonnes. However, volumes in 2014 were higher than normal as the outbreak of PEDv limited domestic production, increasing reliance on imported pig meat.

Although domestic production has not yet fully recovered, stocks of pig meat had built up, reducing the need to import additional product. Nevertheless, volumes remained 6 per cent above the levels seen in 2013, confirming that PEDv is still having some impact on the market.

The total value of Japanese imports also fell by 4 per cent to ¥206.5 billion, as average unit values were almost unchanged due to the gate price system.

The US overtook the EU as the largest supplier of pork to Japan during this period, even though volumes coming from the US fell by 6 per cent.

Shipments from the EU fell by 12 per cent, as the amount coming from Denmark, the largest supplier to Japan from the EU, fell by almost a quarter.

Other large suppliers of pork from the EU to Japan actually increased shipments, with Spain sending a third more.

Total shipments from non-EU countries remained stable as the decline from the US was offset by higher exports from Canada and Mexico, which were up by 11 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.