Spain

Spanish pig meat exports are up 14%

Pork

2.3 million tonnes of pork was shipped last year to the EU member states and third countries.

Posted on Mar 06 ,07:15

In 2019, Spain had a record year in pig exports, shipping more than 2.3 million tonnes of pork (including offal) to the EU single market and third-countries. The increase in volume was 14% compared to 2018, while the value of it was €6 billion, 28% higher than the previous year due to increased demand from China and higher prices in Europe and Asia.
1.1 million tonnes of pork have left the country to reach destinations such as China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong, and other non-EU countries, with China (mainland) accounting for more than half of these exports (620,800 tonnes). In fact, according to China's customs data, in 2019, Spain was the largest supplier of pork in the Chinese market. The pork exports to non-EU markets increased in volume by 33% compared with 2018. In the EU market, the volume of Spanish pork exports (1.2 million tonnes) grew only by 1%.
2020 is expected to maintain the trend of increased exports for Spanish pork, as the country's herd is expanding. According to Eurostat data, Spain produced 4.6 million tonnes of pig meat during the year, 2% more than in 2018. Total slaughter was 52.9 million pigs, up 1% on the year before. The rise in production follows a period of increased investment in slaughter capacity and cutting plants. Further growth is expected this year, with breeding sow numbers up another 3% year-on-year in December.
However, China's impact on the Spanish pork exports may not be as strong as last year, considering the fact that the coronavirus outbreak has already affected the exports to this destination. At the same time, Phase One trade deal signed between Beijing and Washington will increase the competition in the Chinese pork market by reducing tariffs for US pork.

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