Pork shipments to China have increased by 34% in the first quarter of the year.
Spain has increased its pig production in the first two months of 2019 4% (+32,000 tonnes), despite the fact that domestic consumption is declining and exports to a number of EU markets fell back.
According to Bethan Wilkins, AHDB Analyst, part of that volume of pork “is being stored, in anticipation of higher prices later in the year”. Nevertheless, pork exports have grown by 1% in the first quarter of the year, as increased demand from China become more visible.
Shipments to China rose by 34% (+20,300 tonnes) year-on-year, to account for 19% of total trade. This reflects the ongoing African Swine Fever situation.
In the first quarter of this year, Spanish fresh/frozen pork exports increased by 1% (+4,200 tonnes) year-on-year to 422,900 tonnes. Average export prices were already a little higher in the first quarter (+4%), with trade valued at €924 million.
