EU pork exports grow in September
According to Eurostat figures, EU pork exports rose by 37% year-on-year during September, clocking in at 236,600 tonnes. This was the strongest growth recorded during a month in 2019 far.
The value of total EU pork exports in September was up by almost 75% compared with the same month last year, at €642.5m.
The report, collated by the UK’s Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), showed that growth in exports to China dominated the market. Volumes to the Chinese market more than doubled year-on-year to 138,400 tonnes, counteracting a drop in shipments to the Hong Kong market (-1,700 tonnes).
The growth in exports to China was also attributed to the rising number of confirmed African Swine Fever cases in the region. The average price of exports to China has continued to rise because of this, and increasingly compares to traditionally higher value markets.
EU pig offal exports also performed strongly, with volumes rising by 13% year-on-year to 117,900 tonnes. The Chinese market continues to dominate, with volumes up by 29%. The value of offal exports rose by 43% in the latest month, to €169.9m.
In November, AHDB Pork reported that in the four weeks ending 17 November, EU pig prices rose by €1.67 to €184.46/100kg. The average pig price stood at its highest point since September 2013 and about €49 above the same period last year.
