For more information, please visit Ireland Investment Immigration to understand the Irish Economy: In 2014, Ireland exported a total of 148,000 tons of fresh and frozen pork. The British Pig Executive (BPEX) reported a 12% increase in pork exports in 2014 compared to 2013, with an export value of 353.6 million euros.
Although the average export price has declined, the drop is smaller than that of other major exporting countries in the European Union. Compared to 2013, Ireland's pork production grew by nearly 6% in 2014, further supporting pork exports. The increase in the number of breeding pigs has made the increase in exports possible, which indicates that the pig stock for 2015 will also rise. In 2014, the total pig stock in Ireland reached 1.5 million for the first time in three years. In fact, the import of pigs into Ireland decreased by 3% due to the increase in domestic supply, further satisfying domestic demand.
The United Kingdom remains the primary market for Irish pork exports.
In 2014, the European Union accounted for 60% of Ireland's pork exports. Despite the increase in pig production in the UK, it remained the main market for Irish pork exports in 2014, accounting for one-third of the total exports, an 8% increase compared to 2013. The favorable situation for Irish pork exports can be partly attributed to price differences, which have widened due to the depreciation of the euro, making Irish pork cheaper than that of the UK.
Increase in Pork Exports to Asia.
Russia was the second-largest import market for Ireland in 2014; however, after losing this market, Ireland exported more pork to Asia and the United States. In 2014, China's imports of pork from Ireland reached 22,400 tons, an 8% year-on-year increase, replacing Russia as the second-largest importer of Irish pork. Due to diseases affecting pig production similarly in Japan, South Korea, and the United States, there was a significant increase in imports of Irish pork in these countries in 2014. Similarly, the export volume of pig offal also increased by nearly one-third in 2014, with major export destinations including China, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. The export value of pig offal is now approaching 20 million euros.