The Canadian pork industry should get past debates over export dependency and focus
more on quality and efficiency to get the most out of that growing market, says a senior
market analyst.
“We still have trade ‘handwringers’ who worry we’re too reliant on the export market,
particularly the U.S.,” says Kevin Grier of the George Morris Centre, speaking at the
Banff Pork Seminar, a leading annual industry seminar. “It’s time to get over it. Exporting
is what we do.”
Canadian pork exports are now greater than domestic consumption, and all signals point
to exports as the source of future industry growth, says Grier. The domestic industry is
stable and valuable but exports are the source of growth and expansion. “Unless
Canadians double their appetite for pork, we need to focus on exports or the pork industry
would have to become about 50 percent smaller.”
Rather than a risk, Canada should consider its strong export foothold a major advantage
and leverage that into further growth opportunities, he says. The industry’s success over
the last 15 years has been based on quality, efficiency, productivity and entrepreneurship.
Those factors continue to represent the greatest opportunities to boost the profitability of
pork producers and their industry.