According to a recent report from AHDB, pork exports to Japan are on the rise, with shipments worth almost £5.1 mln ($6.07 mln), up 54% on the same period last year. According to the latest data from HMRC, between January and November last year, 1,423 tonnes of pig meat was shipped to Japan, rising from 1,333 tonnes in 2021.

Japan is proving to be an important market for UK red meat exports. UK officials will be attending one of Asia's largest food and drinks exhibitions, Foodex Japan. The four-day show in Tokyo starts on 7 March and is expected to attract around 3,000 exhibitors and thousands of buyers from across Japan.

Exporters will showcase pork from the UK, alongside beef and lamb, providing an opportunity to promote quality red meat from the UK to potential importers and increase shipments in the year ahead.

With a population of 125 million, Japan is the 11th-biggest country in the world and the third-biggest economy, but due to insufficient agricultural land, it relies on imports for around 60% of the food it consumes.

"We are delighted to be returning to Japan for Foodex, one of the most important events in our export trade show calendar," AHDB head of Asia Pacific Jonathan Eckley said. "This year marks the first time in three years that our team will be able to attend in person following the pandemic and we are excited to be able to reconnect with potential buyers in this important market."

"Japan is a growing market for our pork exports, steadily rising each year as demand for our high-quality meat continues to grow," he added. "We are keen to maximise on the opportunities that Japan offers and help our exporters grow their business through face-to-face meetings with importers and networking opportunities that AHDB has created."