UK pork exports are the highest they have ever been since 1999, according to new figures by AHDB Pork.
In December, the volume of UK pig meat exports increased on the year for the first time since August.
At over 15,600 tonnes, shipments of pig meat from the UK were 3% higher than December 2015 and the highest volume exported in the month of December since 1999.
AHDB Pork says the overall increase can be attributed to a rise in shipments to the likes of Germany and Denmark, outweighing declines in volumes shipped to China, the Netherlands and the US.
As well as the volume traded rising on the year in December, the value of these shipments increased too, helped by further currency movements.
The value of pig meat exports in December totalled £22.2 million, 26% higher year on year. Partly driving the overall increase was a rise in the value of shipments to China, despite a fall in actual volume shipped.
Despite fluctuations in the volume of UK exports during the final quarter, the amount of pig meat shipped during 2016 was 10% higher than 2015.
At nearly 206,000 tonnes, this is the highest annual amount the UK has exported since 1999.
The value of UK pig meat exports climbed by 28% on the year in 2016 at nearly £252 million. Ireland remained the UK’s highest value market during the year. However, China’s share increased, overtaking Germany to become the second largest market in value terms.
