It appears the French are eating more pork. In the first 9 months of this year, the total consumption amounted to just over 1.4 million tonne, that is 2,6% more than last year.
The quarterly statement from the agricultural service Agreste also clearly showed the effects of the Russian embargo of pork from the EU on the French pork industry. Over the period January — October, France exported almost 460,000 ton of pork meat, 5,5% less than in the same period in 2013. The export to Russia was 90% lower. Although some other countries including Japan, the Philippines and South-Korea brought French pork, the export to China was significantly lower.
During the first 9 months, France produced 1,475,300 tonnes of pork, less than one percent more on an annual basis. The import came to 463,700 ton, more or less the same as in 2013. The import of live pigs declined by more than 26% to 3,373 animals while France exported 43,800 live animals which is 3% more than a year earlier.