Meat production across the EU is expected to start expanding in 2014 as the region’s economic recovery strengthens according to the European Commission. An increase of 0.7% year on year for beef, veal, pork, poultry, sheep and goat meat is predicted. The Commission states in its latest report that after years of tight supplies for beef and pork, meat production is expected to enter into a period of recovery however, political unrest, self-sufficiency targets, and sanitary trade barriers in some of the EU’s key trading partners will likely cut exports by 4.7% with pork and poultry being the most affected. Beef production is expected to recover 1.4% in 2014 and 2.3% in 2015 driving 2014 beef exports up 5% with strong demand from Russia, Switzerland, and Bosnia & Herzegovina. EU beef imports for January through April 2014 fell 3.7% year on year with shipments from Argentina and Uruguay falling by 19% as those countries redirect their shipments to China and Russia and experience high domestic demand. EU pork production is forecast to increase 0.2% in 2014 and 0.8% in 2015. Pork exports to Russia for January through April 2014 fell 80% after that country banned EU pork because of reported cases of African Swine Flu in Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Overall pork exports fell only 16% however because of a lack of supply from the U.S. due to porcine epidemic diarrhea virus causing increased EU sales to Asia.
To receive relevant news stories with summaries provided by GAI Research & Insight, subscribe to Global AgDevelopments, our free weekly enhanced eNews service