China’s ‘pork ribs and rice’ chains under pressure from rising costs after Germany ban

Pork ribs are one of China’s bestselling menu items, but many restaurants rely on imports, which can be up to 10 times cheaper than local supplies

Germany was among the biggest suppliers of ribs to China until it confirmed its first case of African swine fever earlier this month

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China, which produces about half the world’s pork, has boosted imports by 134 per cent in the first eight months of 2020 to partly offset its shortfall. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:39pm, 24 Sep 2020Updated: 3:33pm, 24 Sep 2020

The cost of China’s much-loved pork rib dishes is soaring after Beijing suspended imports of pig meat from major supplier Germany, hurting restaurants still recovering from the coronavirus hit earlier this year.

Pork ribs are one of China’s bestselling menu items, but many restaurants specialising in the cut rely on imports, which can be up to 10 times cheaper than local supplies.

Germany was among the biggest suppliers of ribs to China until it confirmed its first case of African swine fever, an incurable hog disease, earlier this month.

After Beijing halted all German pork imports, prices of frozen ribs have surged, according to restaurant owners, eroding profits just as customers finally reach normal levels after the coronavirus pandemic.

The price rise also comes after domestic pork hit eye-watering levels last year as China’s production plunged because of its own African swine fever outbreaks.

China, which produces about half the world’s pork, has boosted imports by 134 per cent in the first eight months of 2020 to partly offset its shortfall.

But amid strong demand, imported back ribs had already almost doubled from last year’s price to 11 yuan (US$1.62) per kilogram in May, said the manager of an Inner Mongolia-based branch of a “ribs and rice” chain.