According to a report by the National Association of Pigs (AHDB Pork), Irish pork exports remained at the level of 2018, despite a 1 percent increase in productivity in Q1 2019.

Jenny Tanner, an AHDB Pork analyst, reports that Ireland exported 69,600 tons of pork and offal in the first quarter of 2019, which was estimated at 202.7 million euros. This is 4 percent more than in 2018 and shows that, despite the decline in exports since 2018, higher value ham is currently being produced.

According to the AHDB report, about 54 percent of exports in 2019 were directed to the EU, which is 4 percent less than in 2018, while exports to China increased by 20 percent in volume and more than 4.8 million Euro (on average).

This is not surprising, given that the pig population in China was destroyed by African swine fever.

Exports to the European Union in the main areas decreased year on year: pork destined for Denmark decreased by 23 percent compared to the first quarter of 2018.

Pork production in Ireland is on the rise, increasing by 1 percent (more than 1000 tons) year on year in the first quarter of 2019. The total pork production in Ireland is currently 79,000 tons, and import data show that about 4,000 tons of pork and offal were brought into the country in the first quarter of 2019.

This year, live pig exports in Ireland declined, although most of the exports went across the border to Northern Ireland.