Pigmeat, in its many shapes and forms, is the world's most popular meat and accounts for about 40 per cent of total meat consumption. The UK population have been bacon lovers for many years and even in the 1930s, during economic depression, the UK regularly imported over half a million tonnes of bacon per annum and over half that quantity was supplied by Denmark!

Global Markets
The Danes began exporting pigmeat to the UK in 1847 and are now the world's largest exporter. More than 80 per cent of production is sold overseas. While Danish pigmeat is exported to more than 100 countries, there are four to five markets that dominate. European Union countries take around two-thirds of exports, with the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Sweden as the main destinations. Outside the EU, Japan is the most important market, followed by Russia and USA.

By far the largest part of pigmeat exports consists of fresh or frozen cuts made according to customers demands or needs.

Types of cut
The bulk of Danish pigmeat is further processed by the meat industry in the countries to which it is exported. Exports of cuts make over 60 per cent of total exports. Bacon exports, mainly destined for the UK, now represent just under ten per cent, while processed products account for about ten per cent.

Different cuts are sent to different parts of the world. 'Middle' products, which include the loin, are sold mainly to the UK and Japan. Pork legs are mainly sold to France, Germany and Italy as well as the UK, while the fore-ends are predominantly sold to Germany and Russia.

Export Value
Pork and bacon exports account for just under ten per cent of total Danish exports and nearly half of agricultural exports, which makes pigmeat Denmark's biggest and single most important export product.

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