UK Pork Imports Up in July While Exports Decline

UK - In July the UK imported 10 per cent more pork year on year at 32,100 tonnes according to the latest HMRC trade data, reaching the highest level since December 2014.
calendar icon 15 September 2015
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Volumes from the UK’s largest supplier, Denmark, accounted for most of this increase, with volumes up by 14 per cent.

Belgium, Ireland and Spain were the other major suppliers to increase shipments to the UK, with volumes up 3 per cent, 18 per cent and 47 per cent respectively. However, volumes from the UK’s second and third largest suppliers, Germany and the Netherlands, decreased by 6 per cent and 2 per cent. Imports from Poland continued to increase and were up 115 per cent in July.

Imports for the first seven months of 2015 were 1 per cent higher than the same period in 2014. With prices still well down on last year the overall value of imports in the first seven months was down by 15 per cent on the year at £350.0 million.

Bacon imports decreased by 2 per cent on the year in July at 21,700 tonnes, as a 28 per cent fall in shipments from Denmark was not fully offset by higher shipments from the Netherlands and Germany.

Imports of sausages increased by 23 per cent year on year with volumes from the Netherlands increasing considerably while supplies from Germany decreased. Processed pork however recorded a 2 per cent fall in July.

Pork exports from the UK were down by 7 per cent in July at 15,200 tonnes. Much of the fall was due to lower shipments to China, which were 35 per cent lower year on year, possibly due to the current economic problems in China.

Volumes exported to the UK’s largest importer, Germany, were up by 13 per cent compared to July last year.

Despite lower volumes shipped in July, overall exports in 2015 were up 1 per cent compared 2014 at 103,000 tonnes. The values of exports decreased by 10 per cent year on year in the first seven months at £105.6 million due to lower unit prices.

Offal exports continued to recover in July, with volumes up 63 per cent on the year. The majority of this increase was in volumes going to China, which were up 134 per cent at 2,600 tonnes.

Increases were also seen across a number of smaller markets in Asia, while volumes going to Denmark and Ireland were the only falls of the major offal markets.

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