Inside Pigs
Pork exports are declining faster and faster
The decline in the Chinese import demand for pork is leaving its mark on the European market. Although the total exported volume over the first nine months of this year still exceeds last year's level, the volume exported has been declining faster and faster in recent months, with a preliminary low in September.
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This is evident from the most recent figures from the European Statistical Office (Eurostat). There are widespread grumblings in the pork chain about the difficult conditions on international export markets. The volume sold on the world market increased by 6,1% (236.000 tons) to 4.317.000 tons over the first nine months. However, in September 2021, the quantity of pork sold on the world market was more than 26% below the level of September 2020.
Shrink China
In the first three months of the year, volumes exported to China were still above those of 2020. Since April, these volumes have fallen below last year's levels and the contraction has continued in recent months. The volume exported to China in September was 150.000 tons, a decrease of more than 126.000 tons (-46%) compared to September 2020. This means that the decline has quickly accelerated.
|
EU pork export destination China |
2020 |
2021 |
Mutation |
|
January |
261.000 |
302.000 |
+ 15.7 % |
|
February |
209.000 |
295.000 |
+ 41.1 % |
|
March |
267.000 |
320.000 |
+ 19.9 % |
|
April |
299.000 |
276.000 |
-7.4% |
|
Mei |
266.000 |
251.000 |
-5.6% |
|
June |
238.000 |
180.000 |
-24.4% |
|
July |
256.000 |
166.000 |
-35.2% |
|
August |
249.000 |
152.000 |
-39.3% |
|
September |
276.000 |
150.000 |
-45.6% |
|
October |
291.000 |
||
|
November |
308.000 |
||
|
December |
283.000 |
The decline could not be compensated by other countries. Total European pork exports have also fallen sharply in recent months.
|
Total European pork exports |
2020 |
2021 |
Mutation |
|
July |
503.000 |
437.000 |
-13.1% |
|
August |
469.000 |
428.000 |
-8.7% |
|
September |
527.000 |
389.000 |
-26.2% |
Some countries are increasing imports of European pork
Despite the malaise on the export markets, there are a number of small bright spots. Destinations important to the European Union such as the Philippines (13.000 tons), Korea (11.000 tons) and Vietnam (13.000 tons) purchased more European product. Over the entire period from January to September 2021, sales to all other smaller destinations also increased considerably. An increase of 205.000 tons (+43.9%) was achieved here.