Further declines in UK pork imports during October

By Charlie Reeve

UK pig meat imports (inc offal) remained below last year’s levels during October.

Based on the first 10 months of 2020, import volumes have been 12% down year-on-year. In contrast to this, exports have increased in volume by 3% during the same period.

Imports

During October, the UK recorded a reduction in pig meat imports from all of the major suppliers compared to October 2019. This follows the wider trend of the year to date, which shows reduced volumes of pig meat being imported. Import volumes of all pig meat products were lower than last year during the month.

The value of pig meat (inc offal) imports fell in-line with the drop in volume during October, falling by 18% to total £194 million. Processed hams and primary fresh/frozen pork have seen prices fall recently, but average bacon and sausage import prices remain above 2019 levels, despite low EU farmgate prices.

Total pig meat imports for the first 10 months of 2020 were valued at £2 billion, a decrease of 4% on the previous year.

Exports

When offal is included, UK pig meat exports were still slightly higher year-on-year for October. Offal exports were nearly 50% higher than October last year, at 10,800 tonnes. This was also 13% higher than October 2018. Shipments to China and Hong Kong drove the overall increase. Conversely, exports of fresh/frozen primary pork were 9% lower than last year at 23,000 tonnes. Although exports to China were still 17% higher than last year, volumes to most other destinations declined.

China is currently working to rebuild its domestic pig herd, which may ultimately start to limit the amount of UK exports sent to the region in the future.

Pig meat (inc offal) exports were valued at £62 million during October, a decline of nearly 4% year-on-year, despite the increase in export volumes. This reflects both a decline in average prices for fresh/frozen pork compared to last year, and an increase in the proportion of exports that were lower-value offal products.

Nonetheless, despite not reaching the highs of last year, average export prices across pig meat and offal products during October were still the highest since March.

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