Exports of cured ham grow by 20,22% in volume

During the first quarter of 2023, 13.710,68 tons were exported

Within the European Union, the main markets for cured ham continue to be Germany and France, which in addition to accounting for 50% of the exports of this product, have seen its value increase significantly by 19,95% and 35,44%. %; followed by Portugal and Italy.

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The Spanish Serrano Ham Consortium (CJSE) announces the export figures for Spanish cured hams and shoulders during the first quarter of 2023, a period in which A total of 13.710,68 tons were exported, compared to the volume obtained during the same period in 2022, with 11.404,82 tons; which has meant an increase of 20,22%. Likewise, exports were carried out for a total value of 142.011.341,02 euros, which has implied an increase of 25,41% in this regard in relation to the previous year.

 

“The first quarter of the year has been marked by general growth in all markets in terms of volume, value and average prices, observing a decrease in volume only in some specific markets such as Mexico and the USA, although it is offset by an increase in the value of exports. Therefore, with these figures, we can foresee good results for the first half of the year, with growth expectations of 4% at the end of the year," he explains. Carlos del Hoyo, director of Marketing and Promotion of the Spanish Serrano Ham Consortium.

 

Furthermore, the average price per kilo of ham has increased by 4,32% during this period, standing at 10,36 euros in relation to 2022, when it was 9,85 euros/kg. For its part, the average price in countries of the European Union stood at 9,46 euros, compared to 13,14 euros for the Third Countries, leading to an increase of 5,95% and 14,59%, respectively.

 

In global figures, the countries of the European Union They imported a total of 9.910,77 tons during this year, increasing by 21,02%, while Third Countries recorded a volume of 3.799,90, 18,18% more. Thus, during the first quarter of the year, the European Union accounted for 72,3% of cured ham exports, while 27,7% corresponded to Third Countries; due to the increasingly progressive participation of these countries in the global exports of this product.

 

The countries of the European Union imported a total of 9.910,77 tons of cured ham, accounting for 72,3% of exports, compared to the 3.799,90 tons that have been obtained in Third Countries, with 27,7%.

 

Main markets

 

Within the European Union, the main markets for cured ham continue to be Germany and France, which in addition to accounting for 50% of the exports of this product, have seen its value increase significantly by 19,95% and 35,44%; followed by Portugal and Italy, which also present an increasing trend, seeing their exports increase, specifically, by 29,48% and 21,11%. For their part, other European markets that have increased the value of their exports during the first half of 2023 have been Austria, by 48,39%; Sweden, by 19,55%; and Denmark, by 16,20%. "Sweden, for its part, is no longer the European market with the highest price, although it remains stable at €13,93/kg, a price higher than the average of the European Union“he emphasizes Carlos del Hoyo.

 

On the other hand, the Third Countries that have reflected a more significant growth in terms of value have been Japan, by 107,47%, Brazil, by 46,87%, and Australia, by 43,72%. United KingdomFurthermore, it continues to be the market with the most attractive prices with €15,44/kg, leading to an increase of 5,65%; followed by Switzerland which, during this period, reaches €15,22/kg. For its part, the US has increased its average price by up to 17,41% in this period, reaching €14,10/kg, followed by China, in fourth place, with €13,97/kg.

 

Regarding U.S., Carlos del Hoyo emphasizes that “The US market has experienced a gradual increase in its exports during recent years and a gradual increase in its average price, becoming the market that has increased its average price the most during the first months of the year. These data place the US as the fifth most relevant market for the sector, since cured ham is a product increasingly recognized by the American consumer and in which more and more consumers appreciate its differential value in all channels.

 

In terms of formats, 17,78% of the pieces exported in this period correspond to the bone-in format, leading to an increase in both volume, of 15,10%, as well as in value of 7,90%; being Norway, Portugal and China the countries that have registered growth greater during this period with respect to this format. In relation to China, the marketing and promotion director of the Spanish Serrano Ham Consortium highlights that “in this market, there has been a slight increase of 1,91% in terms of average prices, although it remains at a price of 13,97. €XNUMX/kg for the unequivocal preference that this country has for this format with respect to deboning, promoted, fundamentally, by a cultural issue.”

 

Finally, boneless ham increased by 20,50% in terms of volume and 28,54% in terms of value, placing Australia as the market that consumes the most this format by 100%, due to the existing prohibition in this country on importing bone-in ham, followed by Sweden, by 97,99% and the Netherlands by 96,85%.