EU pig meat exports still robust in May

By Bethan Wilkins

The May figure for EU pig meat exports (including offal) was the lowest monthly total for the year so far, at 488,700 tonnes. However, this was still 6% up on the same month last year and 21% higher than May 2019.

Shipments to the Philippines and Vietnam increased significantly compared with last May. Meanwhile, there was reduced trade with China and Hong Kong.

Importantly, the value of pig meat exports in May was €1.31 billion, 11% higher than in May 2020. The average price of pig meat exports had increased by 5%. At the time EU pig prices were rising at farmgate level, and export prices achieved to China were also still above year earlier levels. More recently, EU prices have fallen away, and reports indicate that the Chinese export market has become more difficult.

Overall figures for the first five months show a 16% increase in EU pig meat exports, totalling 2.68 million tonnes. Shipments to the Chinese market are still 12% higher at 1.43 million, showing how it is more recently that growth to this market has started to stall. In the year-to-date figures, a reduction in volumes to the UK (-10% to 308,800 tonnes) and Japan (-17% to 117,000 tonnes) is also apparent. Declines to these destinations have become less significant more recently.

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