The Netherlands sells more by-products in China

The export of pork to China is a much-discussed topic this year. Slaughterhouses and exporters speak of declining volumes and increasingly lower yields. However, these sounds are partly correct in terms of volume.

In the first quarter, sales of Dutch pork to China shrank by 11% to 20.111 tons. This means that the percentage decrease in the Netherlands is greater than in other countries, such as Germany (-8,3% to 68.351 tons), Spain (-8,7% to 64.071 tons) and Denmark (-8,3% to 23.402 tons). Belgium takes the cake with a decrease of 33,5% to 1.332 tons. On balance, Chinese pork imports shrank by 6,4% to 324.000 tonnes.

Netherlands exception  
China also imported fewer by-products in the first quarter (-14,6% to 271.283 tonnes). This means that the volumes are slightly below the level of the same period in 2016. Germany shows a major decline with a minus of 29,2% (to 36.831 tons). Denmark, Spain and the United States (US) are also making significant losses. The export of by-products from the Netherlands actually showed an increase of 4,5% to 25.053 tons. This sets the trend of 2017 Through. The Netherlands is therefore the exception to the rule.

Pork sales to Hong Kong, the gateway to the Chinese hinterland, also showed a decline. On balance, Hong Kong imported 15,1% less to 71.634 tonnes. After the US and Canada, the Netherlands shows the largest percentage decrease (-45,1% to 3.235 tons). Brazilian export volumes in Hong Kong are head and shoulders above the rest (+31,6% to 29.985 tonnes). The increase is probably a result of the boycott that Russia applies to Brazilian pork.

Hong Kong imported more by-products in the first quarter (+10,6% to 112.752 tonnes). The US, Germany, Brazil and Poland are the largest suppliers; the volumes exported by these countries all show an increase. The Netherlands follows in 5th place. However, the Dutch volume drops by 13,7% to 8.310 tons. Broadly speaking, sales of pork and by-products in Asia are under pressure; especially because Hong Kong is a larger market for Dutch exporters than China in terms of by-products. 

Belgium successful in South Korea
Not everything is negative in Asia. For example, export volumes to South Korea are on the rise in the first quarter. On balance, imports increased by 15,2% to 147.037 tons. Exports from the Netherlands increased by 9,6% to 6.683 tons. The Belgians show by far the largest percentage increase (+36,1% to 3.585 tons). The US also exported significantly more with an increase of 34,9% to 50.449 tons.