The dynamics of the past couple of years have caused shifts in trade patterns for pig meat, boosting the share of domestic pig meat in the volumes available to the market, according to an AHDB report from analyst Freya Shuttleworth. Higher production has helped to lift the domestic share of available supplies, although changes in import volumes has also played a role.

Prior to leaving the EU, import volumes were roughly equal to domestic production, leading to a situation where the majority of pig meat supplies available for consumption was imported. However, imports dropped through both 2020 and 2021 on the back of the pandemic and Brexit. Meanwhile, production volumes saw year on year growth, while exports saw only minor changes.

So far in 2022, the trend in production has continued, with higher carcase weights pushing up pig meat production in the first half of the year by 5%. High domestic prices and increased demand in the foodservice sector have led to higher imports over the same period. Overall, this has led to a small drop in the proportion of available supplies made up by domestic pig meat from 52% to 49%.

The recent devaluation of sterling could lead to a further increase in the domestic share of supplies as prices for UK product become more competitive against imports. This could create an opportunity for more exports, while at the same time reducing imports as they become more costly.