Pork exports from Canada slow down

Canadian pork exports (including offal) have slowed during the first 10 months of 2021. Compared to the volumes reported for the same period last year, exports are now 4% lower at 1.12 million tons. The decline is even more pronounced in the third quarter (-7%), and it could fall further given October EXPORT volumes were 14% below the same month a year ago.

CHINA was the main market for Canadian pork last year , with almost 500,000 tons shipped. But in 2021, history did not repeat itself, and from January to October, the volumes reached only 244,000 tons. CANADA has not been able to fully compensate for this decline by exporting products to other countries. However, a significant increase in shipments was observed in the US (+26%), which resumed its position as the dominant market and purchased 293,000 tons. Shipments to Mexico also doubled to 143,000 tons, while shipments to the Philippines quadrupled to 107,000 tons.

“Declining demand for imports from China means that global pork exporters now face serious competition in alternative markets. It may still be difficult for most key players to achieve export growth from previous highs,” said Bethan Wilkins, senior analyst at AHDB.