Britain's pig industry is heading for yet another bumper year on the export market says the British Pig Executive (BPEX). Last year about 77,000 breeding pigs went abroad, worth about £9.3 million to British breeders and this year it looks as though the trade will break the £10 million barrier.

One of the best markets for British breeding stock this year is Russia and shipments are now starting to go to China as well following the opening of that market.

BPEX Export manager Jean-Pierre Garnier said: "Britain is seen as a world reference for pig breeding. It looks as though we are heading for another bumper year - the figures for last year were a record and I believe we will do even better this year. The Russian market has been particularly buoyant and the Chinese market is picking up but that will be more for high value nucleus stock of mostly pure bred animals, because of the sheer cost of transporting them.

"BPEX has been working closely with the British Pig Association and the breeding companies to open and establish markets and that is really bearing fruit now. This teamwork will continue over the autumn when we promote British genetics at Polagra in Poland, Eurotier in Germany and Indagra in Romania."

Last year breeding pigs were exported to 17 different countries including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Hungary, Germany and the Philippines.

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