UK pork imports stabilise as exports ease in third quarter

UK – UK pig meat imports in September held steady at 63,800 tonnes, remaining close to levels seen in previous years, according to AHDB.

For the third quarter, UK pig meat imports, including offal, fell 3 percent year-on-year to 187,500 tonnes, reflecting a drop of 5,700 tonnes.

Imports from Germany and the Netherlands were lower compared with the previous year, while Denmark’s shipments to the UK recorded an increase.

Cumulative imports from January to September fell 4 percent to 558,700 tonnes, marking the lowest nine-month total since 2021.

Across product types, fresh and frozen pork fell 4 percent to 9,900 tonnes, sausages dropped 3 percent to 3,800 tonnes, and bacon decreased 3 percent to 3,500 tonnes.

Denmark’s bacon exports to the UK declined sharply by 15 percent or 5,800 tonnes, offset partially by a 77 percent increase from Ireland, adding 3,600 tonnes.

Italian shipments rose 12 percent to 796 tonnes, but this did not compensate for Germany’s earlier year decline of 12 percent or 4,100 tonnes in sausage imports.

Fresh and frozen pork from Germany declined 45 percent to 24,600 tonnes, while Belgian and Spanish imports increased by 6,900 and 5,600 tonnes respectively.

Following a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, Germany regained market access and import levels have begun recovering, although year-to-date imports remain 29 percent lower, reducing its UK market share to 13 percent from 18 percent last year.

Belgium and Spain recorded the largest year-on-year growth in UK imports, up 18 percent and 11 percent respectively.

UK pig meat exports in September dropped to 22,300 tonnes, the lowest monthly total since January 2025.

For the third quarter, exports fell 9 percent compared with Q2, driven mainly by reductions to China, down 5,100 tonnes, and Ireland, down 1,800 tonnes, reflecting softer Chinese demand and a focus on domestic production.

Despite the quarterly decline, Q3 exports were only 1 percent lower than the same period in 2024, suggesting overall stability in the market.

Year-to-date exports rose 3 percent to 228,100 tonnes, with gains from China, up 16 percent or 13,600 tonnes, outweighing declines in the EU and the Philippines.

Fresh and frozen pork exports grew 4 percent, supported by shipments to China, up 12 percent or 3,700 tonnes, and Denmark, which surged 64 percent or 1,100 tonnes, while exports to Ireland fell 22 percent.

Sausage exports increased slightly by 628 tonnes, whereas bacon and other processed pig meat fell by 900 and 600 tonnes respectively, and offal exports reached 109,400 tonnes.

China remained the leading offal destination, accounting for 61 percent of shipments, rising from 54 percent in 2024, while EU offal exports to China declined 27 percent amid anti-dumping duties.

Exports to the Philippines decreased 14 percent due to stronger Brazilian competition, and EU offal shipments fell 9 percent to 2,200 tonnes, reducing the EU’s share from 23 percent to 20 percent.

EU-UK pig price differences narrowed in July to their lowest since mid-August 2024, influencing August import volumes to 59,900 tonnes, down from 63,700 tonnes the previous month, while retailer support for UK pork remained steady.

Since October, falling EU pig prices driven by high production and shifting demand have made imports more competitive, posing a key factor for UK import trends for the remainder of the year.

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