China: less pork, more by-products

More pork goes to South Korea, but less to China. This is evident from the export figures for the first 6 months of 2017. The Netherlands is performing well in South Korea and reasonably well in China.

What is striking is that China imports less pork, but Dutch exports of by-products still increased. In South Korea, the Netherlands makes the largest profit in percentage terms, while the more southern exporters from Belgium lose the most in percentage terms. That is striking.

China less on the market
Almost all European countries, with the exception of Spain, write red export figures to China compared to last year. Denmark in particular (-45,5% to 45.230 tons), but also Germany (-35,1% to 99.647 tons) and France (-35% to 28.088 tons) saw sales decline significantly. The Netherlands shipped 12,4% less pork, amounting to 45.369 tons. It is striking that the export of by-products did increase by 10,8% to 47.995 tons. This while Germany exported 35,9% fewer by-products, such as heads and legs. This brings the country to 69.245 tons    

Spanish exporters saw that pork exports to China remained the same as last year. On balance, almost 135.702 tons of pork were exported. Exports of by-products rose by a quarter to 66.756 tonnes. Outside Europe, Canada is posting growth figures, both in pork and by-products. The US, on the other hand, actually records red figures. In total, Chinese imports shrank by 13,1% to 662.354 tons of pork. By-products were imported 6% less to 586.488 tons.

Belgium exception in South Korea
South Korea has shifted imports from America to Europe. The US grew just 1% to 81.548 tonnes of pork, while Canada exported 0,1% less to 17.857 tonnes. This makes the US and Canada the largest and fourth largest exporters to South Korea, respectively. On balance, imports increased by 11,8% to 256.760 tons.  

The European countries have had a good six months in South Korea. The second largest exporter, Germany, saw exports increase by no less than 46% to 56.660 tonnes. Dutch exporters even saw orders increase by 57,9% to 11.880 tons. Bellies in particular are in great demand in the Asian country. The negative exception is Belgium. The Belgians exported 27% less pork, amounting to 4.893 tons. This makes Belgium the country with the largest percentage decline. The percentage growth that the Netherlands experienced in South Korea is actually the greatest.

Canada benefits in Japan
In terms of import volume, Japan is between China and South Korea. Japanese imports increased by 7% to 428.793 tons. Here too, Canada is the exporter that is growing strongly, by 19,5% to 103.273 tons. The Netherlands exported 3,2% more, bringing the export volume to 12.369 tons. The US is by far the largest supplier and exports rose 4,4% to 134.525. From Europe, Japan mainly sources its pork from Spain (+11,9% to 52.689 tons) and Denmark (+1,9% to 58.092 tons). 

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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