UK: Stronger pig meat demand from Asia

09-08-2010 | Home | News

Moves by BPEX to open the Chinese market to British pig meat are to take on a new importance according to the latest forecasts.

The International Meat Market Review predicts stronger demand for pig meat from Asia during the second half of 2010, particularly from China and Hong Kong and the lifting of H1N1 trade bans in China will help this further.

From an EU perspective, higher import requirements from Russia will benefit production and that, in turn, may lead to knock-on benefits for the UK.

These are just some of the highlights in the latest IMMR produced by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Red Meat Market Intelligence.

Stable consumer demand in the current economic climate, improved export opportunities as the Euro weakens and lower feed costs have improved profitability and confidence in the EU pig sector.

Increase in production – other countries too

As a result production is also forecast to increase in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK in 2010, while production in other major pig producing states is forecast to remain stable.

Senior Analyst James Park said: “Overall production of pig meat within the EU fell by two per cent in 2009 compared with 2008.

“Major restructuring of the pig herd, particularly in new member states with a move away from small scale farming, was the primary reason for this decline.

“However, it is forecast that this decline may have bottomed out and the introduction of more efficient farming practices, in particular in Poland, will lead to an increase in production or a reduced decline in new member states in 2010.”

For more info: BPEX
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