Alberta pork is a hit in Japan and the prospects for the future are bright.
“The real success story is what Alberta has been able to do in Japan,” Michael Young of Canadian Pork International said at Alberta Pork’s annual general meeting in December.
“It’s no surprise because we’ve been there for a long time.”
Total Japanese exports have been flat for many years, but Alberta pork has its share of those exports since 2007, said Young, vice-president of Technical Programs and Marketing Services with CPI. In 2009, Japan was Canada’s highest-value market and is considered one of the most lucrative pork markets in the world.
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In 2009, more than $327 million of Alberta pork was exported to countries such as Japan, the U.S., South Korea, Australia and Russia.
“Alberta’s top five export markets represent 80 per cent of the total export volume; over 104,000 tonnes in 2009,” said Young.
Alberta pork has been sold in Japan for over 30 years, and currently accounts for about 33 per cent of Canadian pork exports to that country.
“Alberta sells the highest percentage of chilled pork, which is the highest value of pork that goes into that market,” said Young.
Barley advantage
Numerous lessons have been learned from years of trading pork products to Japan.
“They appreciate our product, the fine texture, the marbling and the firmness,” he said. “They have applications for our product that go beyond pork chops and roast, so we need to listen to what they want.”
Alberta has an advantage in producing high-quality pork for Asian markets due to our feed barley; arable land; and safe, efficient and responsible hog production, he said.
“The reason why the Japanese like Alberta pork is because it’s raised very much the way their own pork is,” he said.
Japanese and Alberta pigs have a very high ratio of barley in their diets which produces a hard, white fat. Fat composition, meat colour, and firmness are highly important when selling to the Japanese market.
Canada is also closer to Asia than many of its competitors.
“Through Canada’s West Coast ports, exporters can easily ship products to destinations throughout the Pacific Rim,” Young said.
Pork shipments from the West Coast can often reach Japan two days before shipments from other ports in the Western Hemisphere.
“In a business where you have to guarantee 45 days for shelf life, every day is important,” said Young. “An extra two days means that Alberta chilled pork is something I might want to run through my distribution system rather than something that came from somewhere else.”
According to studies on perception of Canadian pork, the Japanese rate Canadian pork highly for supply and attributes, and even rate it ahead of their own domestic pork.
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“TherealsuccessstoryiswhatAlbertahasbeenabletodoinJapan,it’snosurprisebecausewe’vebeenthereforalongtime.”
MICHAEL YOUNG
CANADIAN PORK INTERNATIONAL
