A reduction in shipment volumes to Germany, back 31 per cent, were a driving force behind this movement.

Export volumes were increased to Italy and Greece, by 3 per cent and 22 per cent respectively.

Shipments to China increased five-fold in Q1 versus the same period a year earlier. While export volumes were back 8 per cent in Q1, the value of these exports was only down 4 per cent. The average unit price in Germany and China increased versus the same period a year earlier, by 16 per cent and 2 per cent.

While export volumes of fresh/frozen pork to Germany were down, exports of live pigs to Germany were up 33 per cent in Q1, and accounted for three quarters of the total 1.25 million head of live pigs exported from the Netherlands during this period. With the German pig herd declining, demand for live pigs for finishing and processing in Germany has increased.

Although export volumes far exceeded import volumes in Q1, import volumes were still back in this period when compared with the year earlier. Shipments from Germany and Belgium were down 7 per cent and 33 per cent respectively, and Germany accounted for almost two-thirds of all Dutch imports.

Albeit from a smaller base, import volumes increased from both France (9 per cent) and Denmark (43 per cent).