Analysis of Spanish pork product exports (April 2024)

The report “Evolution of Foreign Trade of the Spanish Swine Sector - Advance April 2024” prepared by Interporc presents a detailed analysis of the export and import situation of the pork sector in Spain from January to April 2024, comparing it with the same period of 2023.

Volume and total value of exports

• Volume: from January to April 2024, Spanish pork exports reached 932.2 thousand tons, an increase of 0.6% compared to the same period in 2023 (927.0 thousand tons).
• Value: These exports were valued at 2,900.2 million euros, a slight decrease of 0.3% compared to the previous year (2,908.3 million euros).

Main destinations

• China: continues to be the main destination in terms of volume (18.1% of total exports), although it experienced a significant decrease of 14.3% in export volume and 27.6% in export value.
• Italy and France maintain a strong position, with Italy accounting for 10.4% of volume and 8.9% of value, and France for 10.2% of volume but, for the first time, surpassing China in value, accounting for 11.7% of total Spanish pork exports in value and ranking first.
• Other important markets are Portugal, Japan, and the Philippines, with variations in their respective market shares and values.

Breakdown of exports

• Fresh products represent 93.1% of the total volume of exports and 82.4% of the total value. Volume increased by 0.4% while value decreased by 1.3%.
• Processed products represent 6.9% of the volume and 17.6% of the total value. The volume of exports decreased by 4.9%, while the value grew by 6.5%.

Year-on-year comparison

• Significant increases: exports to France and South Korea grew in both volume and value.
• Significant decreases: China and the Philippines experienced a significant decrease in both parameters.

Exports by Autonomous Communities

Regional contribution: Six autonomous communities accounted for 93.3% of the volume and 92.4% of the total value of pork exports with Catalonia and Aragon standing out, together contributing 75.4% in volume and 73.0% in value.

Conclusions

The Spanish pork sector has seen a slight increase in the total volume exported, although the total value of exports has decreased slightly. The diversification of markets has partially compensated for declines in major destinations such as China. Most exports continue to be of fresh products, but processed products have shown notable growth in value.