Canadian exports of fresh/frozen pork have recorded a slight decline over the first six months of 2016, by 2%, to 74 thousand tonnes, writes AHDB.Pork.
However, the burgeoning trade with China has helped to stem a steeper decline. Chinese shipments have more than trebled on the same point a year earlier, now making it the largest market for Canadian pork, accounting for almost a third of all exports. Japanese exports also recorded growth over the six months to June, with Japanese demand still prevalent as the domestic herd recovers from the 2014 PEDv outbreak. However, it may be expected that this could tail off over the next six months. Shipments to the US were back by 29%, and the US is now the second largest market behind China. Volumes are now broadly similar to 2014 levels, as the spike in 2015 shipments to the US may have been exacerbated by the tail end of the PEDv outbreak in the US.
The average price of Canadian exports was 3.5% greater than January —June 2015, and the value of exports increased by 14% to C$1,534 million. Much of this increase in value was driven by Chinese trade, with the pig price in China recording record highs over the six-month period, with the value of Chinese shipments recording over a five-fold increase on 2015.
Pork export, January-June
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
||
thsd tons |
||||
Total fresh/frozen pork |
71,1 |
75,8 |
74,3 |
|
Of which: |
China |
5,9 |
7,1 |
22,4 |
USA |
22,8 |
31,1 |
22,1 |
|
Japan |
13,0 |
14,6 |
15,5 |
|
Mexico |
3,8 |
6,1 |
4,9 |
|
South Korea |
2,3 |
3,0 |
2,7 |
Source: Statistics Canada, GTIS