Northern Irish pork processors eye China deals
Dunbia, Elmgrove Foods and Karro Foods in Northern Ireland are gearing up to bid for first-time business in China.
Based in Dungannon, county Tyrone, Elmgrove Foods is already a leading supplier of 'fifth quarter' products to Asian markets. Dunbia, also based in Dungannon is a leading processor of pork as well as beef and lamb. The family-owned business in among the biggest UK meat processors and has plants in England and Wales. Elmgrove also has family links with Dunbia.
The Karro operation in Northern Ireland is located at Cookstown in county Tyrone and is the region's biggest processor of pork products.
The opportunity to export products to China especially 'fifth quarter' items such as pigs' trotters is expected to follow a major initiative led by the region's agriculture minister Michelle O'Neill over the past few years.
Mrs O'Neill says: "I have recently returned from my third visit to China, and I am delighted all the hard work and effort of a large number of people is now starting to pay off."
The interest in Northern Ireland pork has also been strengthened by visits to Northern Ireland by Chinese officials from the influential Chinese Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) who have been impressed by the high standards of pig farming and processing across the region. It is expected to lead to the first export deals for Northern Ireland companies in what is now a huge market for pork.
"Being able to export such fifth quarter, in addition to our high quality pork, is important for our industry as it will provide a valuable market for those parts of the animal which would not usually be consumed by the domestic market," added Mrs O'Neill.
The ability to export 'fifth quarter' products such as trotters is also in line with an action plan developed by the Agri-Food Strategy Board for Northern Ireland on finding markets for as many parts of the animal as possible.
China is projected to become the world's largest consumer of pigment products by 2020.
Inspectors from the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) have also visited Northern Ireland in the past few months.
Dunbia group executive director Jack Dobson was also part of a recent delegation to China led by Liz Truss, the UK environment and food minister.
Dunbia and other Northern Ireland beef and lamb processors hope a breakthrough for pork in China will lead to deals for other meat products. In addition, Northern Ireland is pressing for business in the US and other world markets.
The Northern Ireland pig industry accounts for around a tenth of the UK pig herd and 16 per cent of pig meat production. Export is vital because Northern Ireland produces a surplus of pig meat.
The total number of pigs on farm in June 2013 reached 480,300 head, the largest pig herd since 1999.