Access to Mexican market moves a step clearer after UK visit

Market access to the lucrative Mexican pork market has moved a step closer, following a 'positive' inspection of the UK’s pork market by Mexican inspectors.

A delegation of Mexican officials spent two weeks visiting abattoirs and processors to learn more about the UK’s pork production controls. They also met with pork processors Cranswick, Karro and Tulip as well as viewing several cold storage facilities across the country.

NPA senior policy adviser Ed Barker met the delegation during the visit, updating them on UK pork production.

The inspections formed part of ongoing work by the AHDB in partnership with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as well as UKECP, APHA, DAERA and FSA to open the market for pork exports from the UK.

Mexico represents a major opportunity for the UK’s pork sector. It is the second largest importer of pork – accounting for nine per cent of total international trade. In 2018, the country imported 1.2 million tonnes of pig meat, three quarters of which was fresh/frozen primary pork. The remainder was mostly offal.

The US is Mexico’s dominant supplier, providing 85% of imports, with the majority of the remainder coming from Canada and small volume from some EU suppliers.

AHDB international market development director Dr Phil Hadley said: “The Mexican market represents a major opportunity for the UK pork sector with a rise in consumption and demand currently outstripping production capabilities.

“We are confident this inspection will be another step forward in the UK’s ambition to access this important market and build on our already impressive pork export figures.”