In the second quarter, UK imports of pork and offal increased by 1% compared with the first quarter of 2026, but were 8% lower than in the same period last year.
Shipments from Denmark fell by 12% quarter on quarter in April–June to 31,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, imports from Germany continued to recover following previous trade restrictions and increased by 3% compared with the first quarter.
Imports from the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain and Poland also increased compared with the previous quarter, but remained lower year on year.
Overall, in the first six months of 2026, the United Kingdom imported just over 350,000 tonnes of pork and pig products, 5.6% less than a year earlier.
Pork Self-Sufficiency Rises to 66%
AHDB links the decline in imports partly to increased domestic supply.
Taking domestic production, imports and exports into account, the UK’s pork self-sufficiency rate rose to 66% in the first half of 2026, compared with 61% in the same period of 2025.
At the same time, the gap between UK and EU reference pig prices narrowed slightly, although it remained relatively wide in the second quarter, averaging around 40 pence.
AHDB also noted a further 3% decline in bacon imports compared with the first quarter. Bacon sales in UK retail during the 12 weeks ending 12 July were 4.7% lower than a year earlier. One possible reason is that some consumers are seeking to reduce their intake of more heavily processed foods.
Exports Remain Strong After a Robust First Quarter
UK pork exports fell by 4% in the second quarter compared with the high levels recorded in the first quarter, totalling 84,700 tonnes.
Despite the quarterly decline, exports remained strong year on year. In the first half of the year, the country shipped 173,200 tonnes abroad, 11% more than a year earlier.
Export value increased by 5% to £267.2 million.
EU Overtakes China by Export Volume
Exports to China increased by 3% in the second quarter compared with the first, reaching 34,200 tonnes.
The composition of shipments also changed: the share of fresh and frozen pork increased to 43%, compared with 34% a year earlier, while the remainder consisted of offal.
For the first half of the year overall, total pig product exports to China still declined by 3%.
Shipments to the EU fell by 11% in the second quarter compared with the previous quarter, partly due to lower exports to Ireland, Denmark, Germany and France. However, they were 15% higher than in the second quarter of 2025.
In January–June, exports to the EU reached 73,100 tonnes, up 19%. This means that in the first half of the year, the UK exported more pig products to the European Union than to China.
Shipments to the Philippines increased by 7% in the second quarter and by 8% year on year in the year to date. Exports to South Africa rose by 14% quarter on quarter, mainly due to offal.
Animal Diseases Remain a Key Risk
AHDB expects animal disease developments to continue to have a major impact on global pork trade.
In the Philippines, import quotas were increased by 150,000 tonnes due to animal disease challenges, creating additional opportunities for suppliers. At the same time, competition is expected to remain strong, particularly from Brazil.
In South Africa, outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and ASF have disrupted domestic production and are supporting import demand.
By contrast, Chinese demand is weakening due to low pig prices, a shrinking sow herd and the effects of a previous period of oversupply. As a result, the UK is seeking alternative markets in Asia, particularly for offal.
ASF remains one of the biggest risks for the UK pig sector. In the event of an outbreak, the consequences could be significant for both domestic production and access to export markets. AHDB notes that regionalisation agreements could help limit trade losses in such a scenario.
PigUA.info, based on materials from euromeatnews.com