Trade deal with China 'huge opportunity'
A delegation including British Pig Executive (BPEX) Chairman Stewart Houston and Farming Minister Jim Paice MP has signed a trade deal with China opening up the lucrative Chinese pigmeat export market to the UK pig farming sector. The construction of the deal first began in 2004.
Such a development is positive news for the UK pig farming sector. Pork constitutes approximately three-quarters of China's total meat consumption and demand for cuts dubbed the 'fifth quarter' such as the diaphragm, feet and stomach is much higher than is the case in other markets. It is likely that the opportunity to sell these cuts to the large and newly prosperous Chinese market will lead to an improvement in the value of the average British pig carcase.
Welcoming the news, BPEX Chairman Stewart Houston said “We wouldn’t be far wrong to expect £30m of exports in the first year and then double that beyond. The plans are in place and the pigmeat is available...We hope this is the start of a bigger engagement with wider export potential. Trade with China in years to come is going to be one of the most important facets of all agricultural production in the UK.”
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