EU pork export scores better than expected

In the first 3 months of the year, Europe exported a total of more than 1,6 million tons of pork. Compared to the same period last year, this is an increase of 30%. The value increased by 16,6% to approximately €3,4 billion.

Exports to China increased by no less than 26,2% to almost 955.000 tons. And with this, China even imported more than 28% of the total European volume of pork. However, China did not report the largest percentage growth, which was Taiwan with a growth of 99%. Congo (+92%), Hong Kong (+83,9%) and Angola (+70,5%) also imported significantly more pork. These countries do have smaller import volumes.

The forecast has so far been contradicted
The export figures for the first quarter are not entirely in line with the original forecast of the European Commission. It expected that production and exports would decline in the short term and that total exports for 2021 would be more than 9% below last year's level. This is due to German export restrictions (due to African swine fever) and an expected stagnant Chinese import demand. This is of course based on the whole of 2021, but with a good start in the first quarter the forecast may be adjusted.