Danish Pork Exports Bolstered by Strong Demand in China

10 Aug 2016 --- Danish pork exports to China boomed during the first part of the year as Chinese domestic production of pig meat slowed down, prompting more need to depend on Europe. 

Speaking with FoodIngredientsFirst, a spokesman for the Danish Agriculture and Food Council (DAFC) explains how the early part of 2016 saw a marked increased compared to last year.

“In January to April 2015 we exported 11.4 percent of Danish pork meat to China. In the same period this year, we’ve exported 16.9 percent of Danish pork meat to China,” he says.

“They are close to doubling in terms of Danish Krones, but a little less in terms of tons.”

“We might see the export speed up again and we are confident that we can double the export in Danish Krones. The major reason is the two percent fall in the Chinese products which calls for more imported meat to China.”

China is a key market for European pig meat and is particularly important for Danish farmers who have been benefiting from high prices. The decline in Chinese pork production is partly down to an environment regulation which imposed new pig production pollution limits last year.

“China is very important market and the reason why is because we still see a high production of pork meat in the European Union. More than 50 percent of EUs production of pork meat is exported to China. When the export to Russia was at its highest, the EU exported 25 percent of the production of pork meat to Russia.”

“The prices have been rising because of the demand from China and the farmers can earn more money.”

“For a long period we have exported edible by products like ears, heads and feet. But lately, we see that also more traditional cuts are being exported to the Chinese,” the spokesman added. 

The demand from China has eased during this period of the year following months of growth, but the meat industry expects exports to increase again. 
 
by Gaynor Selby