The year 2011 has begun with a reduction in food consumption in Spain, something that has also affected to the sale of fresh meat and processed meat.

 The demand for meat at home has been reduced by 11.2% (409.087t) in January and February and the sales value has fallen by 12.2% (2,527 million euros), according to the MARM´s Food Consumer Index. Frozen meat sale has expanded by 17.5% ( 63,522 t) and is grabbing 15% of purchases.

From the decline in domestic consumption, Spanish meat and meat product exports show a positive tendency. Thus, during the first two months of 2011, sales grew by 13.2% in quantity (249,586 t) and 18.6% in value (EUR 524.15 million), as shown in the table below.

Regarding pork exports, the first two months of the year coincide with the dioxin crisis in Germany. This fact encouraged the European market demand for pork from other countries such as Spain. Pigmeat sales account for 59% of the exported meat (in quantity) and 55% of meat sale value.

Most sales were made in the Intracommunity market (78.4% of the total ones) and it is important to pint out how exports to third countries have been growing over the past years.

Source: ICEX and MARM.