Shipments were up 86 per cent on the same period a year earlier, to 227,000 tonnes. Exports to China from all the main producing member states have seen record growth, with shipments more than trebled in April 2016 versus the year earlier.

All other Asian markets took more EU pork in April, with shipments to Hong Kong and Vietnam more than doubling on April 2015.

Value growth was only slightly behind volume growth, up 68 per cent to €477 million in April versus a year earlier.

Unit prices were 10 per cent down on April 2015 levels, with decreases recorded in the unit price for South Korea and the United States. However, an increase in the average unit price of 5 per cent in China has helped contribute to much of the value growth.

Other pig products also recorded this positive growth trend. Offal exports were up 40 per cent in April on the year earlier, with the Asian markets providing most of this growth. The value of offal exports grew ahead of volume, up 50 per cent in April, buoyed by the strong unit price in China.

The United States, Canada and Brazil have increased their export volumes to China substantially year-on-year, as the Chinese authorities have approved more plants. Therefore, while the EU is capitalising on the growing Chinese demand, as are other major global producers, thereby increasing the competition.