UK pork exports hit record since 2000

UK pork exports for last year hit record high since 2000, exceeding 256,000 tonnes (t) with a value of over £325m.

The record number was helped by its biggest single market Greater China (including Hong Kong) which accounted for 57,000t.

Bpex international manager Peter Hardwick said: “This increase in exports is extremely gratifying and is due, to a great extent, to the efforts of Bpex, in conjunction with Defra, to open new markets especially outside the EU with China being the highlight, although last year also saw a re-invigorated trade with Japan.

“We believe there is considerable scope for this to grow further as we increase the number of approved export plants and hope shortly to reach agreement on the export of pigs trotters, which are estimated to represent 40% of the trade to China. We are also working on opening other markets across south-east Asia, as well as Russia.”