COVID-19 disruption dampens UK pork exports in May

By Felicity Rusk

The disruption caused by COVID-19 seems to have become evident in May trade figures, with UK exports recording a 2% decline on the year. Meanwhile, UK imports continued to track below last year’s volumes.

Exports

The disruption as a result of COVID-19 may have caught up with UK exports, with fresh/frozen pork volumes recording a 2% decline in May. Industry reports at the time suggested there were challenges in sourcing shipping containers, particularly refrigerated ones.

Despite the overall slowdown in global trade, exports to China remained up on the year, albeit at a slightly more muted level than we have seen in recent months. In May, UK exports of pig meat (including offal) to the nation increased by 42% on the year, with export values down on the month, although back in line with March levels.

Within European markets, pork exports to Ireland recorded a particularly large drop (-50%) compared to the previous year. Exports to Germany and the Netherlands recorded also a drop in volumes of 5% and 19% respectively.

Exports of sausages and bacon were both under half of the volumes shipped in the same month in the previous year. In contrast, exports of offal continued to show strong growth, with 12% year-on-year growth.

Overall exports in May totalled £51.1 million, 2% more than in the previous year.

Imports

In May, UK imports of fresh and frozen pork continued to track below the previous year, although the rate of decline was not as large as we have seen in recent months.

Imports from nearly all major source nations recorded a reduction in volumes, including Denmark (-13%), Spain (-20%), Ireland (-34%) and the Netherlands (-44%). Volumes from Germany bucked the trend, increasing by almost a quarter, although this was not enough to compensate for the decline in volumes from elsewhere.

Import volumes of bacon and sausages both fell by around a quarter compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, processed meat imports (including hams, charcuterie) recorded a 14% increase on the year, with a particular uplift in product from Spain (+650%) and Poland (+48%).

Import prices remained higher than year earlier levels, so the value of imports was only down 11% on the year, at £183.9 million.

Subscribe to receive pork market news straight to your inbox. Simply complete our online form.

While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.

All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk  © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.