China’s pork imports surged almost 80 per cent in August to cover gap left by African swine fever
- Imports of pork rose 76 per cent in August in terms of volume and surged 150 per cent last month in terms of value
- China is scrambling to purchase pork from overseas as domestic prices have rocketed by more than 80 per cent, causing widespread public discontent
China’s pork imports surged 76 per cent in August as Beijing scrambled to boost pork levels to cover a shortfall in domestic supply after African swine fever destroyed anywhere between nearly 40 to 60 per cent of the pig population in the world’s largest pork market.
Ensuring sufficient supply and soothing public discontent over the price of pork, a staple meat on Chinese dinner tables, has become a top priority for the Chinese government ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic on October 1.
China’s pork imports jumped to 162,935 tonnes in August, up significantly up from the same month of last year, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Monday. In terms of value, China’s pork imports surged 150 per cent last month, suggesting that China is paying over the odds to buy overseas pork.
However, despite the sharp rise, August’s imports are still only roughly equivalent to a day’s pork consumption in the country.
Chen Wenling, the chief economist for the China Centre for International Economic Exchange, said that China will “definitely increase pork imports” from US and other countries.