Pork exports have now hit record levels (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Pork exports have now hit record levels
3:12pm Friday 15th March 2013 in Farming
PORK exports reached near record levels last year and accounted for 25pc of UK production.
The only year when total exports were higher was back in 1998 and then only by a couple of per cent.
Peter Hardwick, BPEX international manager, explained that exports fell quite dramatically after 1998. In 2000 there was an outbreak of Classical Swine Fever, followed by Foot and Mouth Disease in 2001.
"Those two meant we lost a lot of markets, which we are still regaining," he said, "but seeing the export figures so high for last year is very good news. The amount of pig meat exported was worth in the region of £275m."
The main driver was the opening of Chinese and Far Eastern markets which are now becoming very important.
"We have also gained access to the Australian market which will enable us to export high quality, high value pork."
