HKScan begins exporting pork to China

Finland-based meat producer HKScan has commenced exporting pork to China for the first time, shipping 25,000kg of meat from its Forssa production unit.

Over the next year, the company intends to send nearly three million kilograms of pork to China and plans to triple that volume by 2020.

HKScan exports head Jukka Nikkinen said: “The Chinese pork market is the world’s largest. Rather than focusing on bulk volume, however, our key strengths in China are great flavour and the world-class expertise of Finnish family farms. Pork quality requirements in China are among the strictest worldwide.

“The Chinese utilise all parts of the carcass in their cuisine. Our customers are interested in carcass parts that might seem exotic from a European perspective, such as meaty bones and feet, which are highly valued and important raw ingredients in Chinese cuisine. These cuts are also included in the first shipment.”

The Chinese food authorities have already certified HKScan’s Forssa plant and granted an export permit to the company.

HKScan’s Forssa plant also holds export licenses for other international markets such as the US and Russia.

The Finnish company currently exports its pork to nearly 50 countries across the globe including New Zealand, Japan and numerous EU countries.

HKScan CEO Jari Latvanen said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate the long-awaited launch of Chinese exports from our Forssa unit.

“This milestone will open up new earnings opportunities for our entire value chain and strengthen confidence in the international competitiveness of the Finnish food industry.

“Our chief competitive assets are our high levels of professional expertise throughout our entire Farm to Fork chain, all the way from our contract farms to our production units.”