Lower pig meat imports in April

Imports of pig meat (not including offal) into the UK fell sharply in April, according to data from HMRC. At 61,000 tonnes, volumes were still higher than the same month a year ago, but around 11,000 tonnes lower than recent monthly import levels.

The drop can perhaps be explained by a fall in competitiveness of European product, as EU pig prices rallied strongly in March. Indeed, the average price of fresh/frozen pork imports went from below £2.00/kg prior to April, to £2.26/kg in the month, even before sterling depreciated against the euro.

This brings pig meat import volumes for the year to date to 285,000 tonnes, an increase of 34% over 2021, and slightly above levels seen in 2020.

UK exports of pig meat (not including offal) were also lower in April, compared either to a year ago or recent months, with 18,400 tonnes shipped overseas. Exports to the EU were 10,700 tonnes, 46% more than a year ago at a time when trade was supressed because of both the pandemic and Brexit. Exports to China were 3,700 tonnes, 53% less than a year ago, and volumes to the rest of the world fell by 24% to 4,000 tonnes.

In the year to date, pig meat exports (not including offal) amount to 81,000 tonnes overall, up 8% on 2021, with a value of £138m, down 6% on a year ago.

Exports of pig offal, so important to the value of the sector as a whole, increased year on year by 24% in April, to 13,000 tonnes. China remains the main destination accounting for 40%, although this is down from over 50% a year ago. 17% of offal exports went to the Philippines, up from 8% a year ago, and 3% a year before that. In the year to date 47,000 tonnes have been exported with a value of £50m.

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