In October, the UK experienced a notable increase in pork imports, with a 12% rise from September and an 8% increase compared to the same month in the previous year, reaching a total of 67,700 tonnes. The majority of these imports were fresh/frozen pork, although this category saw a 5% decrease compared to October 2021. There was strong growth in the processed, sausage, and bacon categories, with increases of 44%, 23%, and 11% respectively year on year. From January to October 2023, total pork imports reached 667,600 tonnes, marking a 12% increase compared to the same period in 2021.
On the export front, October saw a slight decrease in pork exports compared to September but an 11% increase compared to October 2022, with a total of 28,400 tonnes. For the first time, offal overtook fresh/frozen pork as the largest product share in volume terms. There was strong growth in offal exports, as well as bacon and processed categories, while fresh/frozen pork, bacon, and sausages experienced declines. From January to October 2023, UK pork exports increased by 9% compared to 2021, reaching 312,700 tonnes, a figure that is in line with the volumes from 2019.