The world of pork exports during a global pandemic
Despite the challenges of the past 12 months, UK pig meat exports continued to provide a key outlet for the pork sector.
Data for 2020 shows total UK exports were six per cent up on the year, breaking through the 400,000-tonne mark for the first time in recent history, valued at an incredible £654 million.
Despite these impressive figures, international trading conditions became more complex as the year progressed. Increased availability, both close to home within the EU and further afield, had a direct impact on the prevailing global trading dynamic. The pandemic impacted the supply chain here in the UK and slowed global logistics.
Nonetheless, our export market remains crucial and continues to be a core pillar of activity at AHDB, from looking for new opportunities and working with the industry and government to open new markets, to developing existing high-volume markets and promoting quality pork from Britain to consumers in high-value global markets.
Restrictions have had a huge impact on my, and the other members of AHDB’s export team’s, activity. Fortunately, we have several in-market agencies to support our work, which proved vital as we shifted our activity into the digital world. This helped to maintain momentum and strengthen the UK’s reputation as a supplier of safe, high-quality pig meat products.
Jonathan Eckley, AHDB Head of Asia Pacific
