UK exports of pig-meat to China have overtaken Scotch whisky.
Pork, offal and breeding stock worth just under £60m were sent last year, while exports of whisky were worth £53.6m.
"China is increasingly important to us and is now the UK's largest single export market for pork and pork products," said Mike Sloyan, director of Bpex, the body representing pig-levy payers in England.
Mr Sloyan went on: "A party of Chinese officials will be visiting the UK shortly as part of our plans to increase both the range and quantity of products we can
export.
"Parts of China have an increasingly urban population which means there are substantial niche markets for products such as bacon and pork pies. Many Chinese have sampled products of this nature and opening a market for them will be the next phase."
Farmers warned not to hang on to prime hoggs
The National Sheep Association (NSA) is encouraging farmers to get their prime hoggs away quickly to avoid losing out financially, suggesting the practice of carcase splitting regularly leads to reports of animals being devalued by £25 per head.
The reminder comes as many hoggs are reaching the age when their first permanent teeth come up, which is the current interpretation of 12 months of age when TSE regulations at a European level state that carcases must be split and the animal's spinal cord removed.
Phil Stocker, NSA chief executive, says farmers should make sure they are getting their hoggs to market specification and selling them, or risk seeing them devalued.
Market round-up
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 413 store heifers at Ayr on Thursday to a top of £1220 per head and 261.8p per kg to average £829.81 and 220.8p, while 558 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at £1250 and 270.4p to level at £944.86 and 228.9p. Sixty-nine store, B&W bullocks sold to £900 and 172p to average £766.09 and 165.9p.
The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sold 5779 prime hoggs in Longtown on Thursday to a top of £112 per head and 223p per kg to average 189p (-9.1p on the week), while 51 prime lambs peaked at £103 and 234p to level at 225p.
A much larger show of 3341 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £168 for Charollais and average £107.80 (-£17.65), while light ewes peaked at £104 for Cheviots and levelled at £69.21 (+£1.04). Rams sold to £210 for a Suffolk and averaged £107.30 (-£19.51).
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