UK pork output rises in early 2025 as exports to China resume
Q1 pork production climbs 6.4% year-on-year. This comes a few months after China reopened the market to all UK pork producers.
UK – Pork production in the United Kingdom reached 244,500 tonnes between January and March 2025, according to data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), as shared by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
This marks an increase of nearly 15,000 tonnes or 6.4% compared to the same three-month period in 2024.
However, production volumes in Q1 last year had dropped to their lowest level since 2017.
It is common for pork production to slow in the first quarter following the December peak in demand, and this pattern continued as volumes fell by 5,000 tonnes from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025.
The increase in output was driven by both higher slaughter figures and rising carcase weights.
UK clean pig slaughter stood at 2.59 million head in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of almost 136,000 head (5.5%) compared to Q1 2024.
Compared to the final quarter of 2024, however, slaughter numbers dropped by 111,000 head, as producers typically process more pigs before the festive season.
Carcase weights continued their upward trend, averaging 91.5 kilogrammes between January and March 2025.
This is around 1 kilogramme heavier than in the same period last year, and nearly 2 kilogrammes above the Q4 2024 average.
Export Market Fully Reopens
In December 2024, China lifted its pandemic-related trade suspensions on the final two UK pork producers still under restriction, according to a government announcement.
This move has reopened the Chinese market fully to British exports of both processed and unprocessed pork.
Restrictions had been in place since 2020, affecting certain producers due to COVID-19-related controls.
Based on 2024 export data, Defra estimates the renewed access could generate an additional US$101.8 million in export value for the UK pork sector.
Last year, UK shipments of processed pork products—including sausages, bacon, and offal—earned US$126.6 million in revenue.
Exports of fresh pork and related goods contributed another US$101.8 million during the same period.
The names of the two pork producers affected by the lifted ban were not disclosed, though Defra confirmed that only a portion of the industry had been impacted.
The AHDB, which was involved in finalising the agreement, welcomed the development.
AHDB Chief Executive Graham Wilkinson said that China continues to be the biggest international buyer of British pork.
UK Trade Minister Douglas Alexander said total pork exports to China in 2024 were valued at US$228 million.
China accounts for approximately 40% of global pork consumption, making it the largest consumer market for the product.
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