Strengthening our collaboration with the Vion Food Group on the 25th anniversary of beginning imports of pork produced in The Netherlands
As a pioneer in the field of imported meat, the Foodstuffs Division has constructed close relationships with overseas suppliers through many years of continuing business. NIPPON STEEL TRADING CORPORATION ("NST") continues to control a high share of the market for sales of imported pork, beef, and chicken.
In 1993, we began imports of pork produced in The Netherlands from the company Dumeco (predecessor of Vion), a major Dutch meat producer. In 2017, it marks the 25th anniversary of this beginning, and over that period we have developed products to meet the standards of many different customers in Japan, and expanded our sales in close cooperation with Vion.
Total frozen pork imports to Japan in FY 2016 were approximately 500,000 tons. Of that amount, imports from The Netherlands were approximately 24,000 tons or around a 4.8% share of total imports.
Aiming to further increase this share in the future, we will jointly develop sliced and other primary processed products and sell products that deliver high added-value. We are also engaged in collaborations targeting the Asia market as well.
NST will continue to strengthen its cooperation with Vion and develop products that deliver greater value in order to continue providing a stable supply of pork.