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Keegan Elmer

China is looking to import more meat from countries such as Denmark and Brazil as higher pork prices begin to bite.
African swine fever has decimated the domestic pig population, leaving no choice but to import more pork as well as substitutes to satisfy China’s massive demand for meat.
The disease, which is deadly to pigs but does not affect humans, has led to mass culls since the disease was first officially reported more than a year ago. The resulting shortages have caused pork prices to reach record levels and also driven up the cost of alternatives such as chicken and beef.
On Monday, China added 25 Brazilian meat plants to its list of approved exporters, bringing the total to 89, according to Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture.




Meanwhile the Danish food minister, Mogens Jensen, is visiting Beijing on a visit designed to boost exports to China, the world’s largest consumer of pork.
“China is Denmark’s sixth-largest export market. We could get even more types of products out in the Chinese supermarkets,” Jensen said.
Feng Yonghui, chief analyst at pig industry news portal Soozhu.com, said China had been searching for more supplies from other nations because local supplies were strained.
Feng said that the chief future targets were likely to include smaller European countries, such as Finland and Sweden, while Portuguese pork exports had been approved earlier this year.
Last month pig prices broke the previous record of 21 yuan (US$2.95) per kilo and Feng said China had been forced to increase its imports of pork as well as meats such as beef and lamb.

“Before prices broke records, there wasn’t so much pressure … Now the policies have already come into effect, but it will take around a year to bring the price back under control,” Feng said.
Last month Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua warned that pork supplies would be under “extremely severe” pressure in the last quarter of 2019 and the first half of 2020.
Hu presided over a teleconference two weeks ago to set out policies and directives on pork production, saying the country could not rely on imports alone.




Last year some 8.7 million tonnes of pork were traded globally – of which Chinese imports accounted for 1.6 million tonnes, according to Hu.
He said the current supply shortfall was 10 million tonnes, but analysts said the real gap could be much higher.
Chinese farmers warned to avoid illegal African swine fever vaccines
But Pan Chenjun, an analyst at Rabobank, said China’s imports of pork had been muted through the first half of the year, according to Chinese customs data.
Pork imports increased by just 12 per cent year on year in the first seven months of this year, although this is expected to increase in the coming months. However, she said poultry imports had increased by 51 per cent.

Pan said that the relatively slow increase in imports in the first half of the year was a result of prices staying low while stocks of frozen meat remained high due to the “extensive liquidation of the pig herd and slower demand”.
She also said that while the approval process for new exports was slow, the government may be looking to speed that process up.
China moves to quell rising anger over soaring pork prices with discounts
Feng added that those countries that increased exports to China might see a rise in prices at home.
“China’s demand for pork is so large. Whoever increases exports to China will see a certain rise in price,” he said.


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China pork crisis

Will pork imports from Denmark and Brazil save China’s bacon after African swine fever hits supplies?

Chinese consumers face record pork prices. Photo: Simon Song

A Chinese customer buys pork at  pork stall at a wholesale market in Beijing, China, Sep. 09, 2019. Pork price has been unstable in China's market and the government has put efforts to stabilize pork production and ensure the pork supply following the effects of African swine fever on the industry.  09SEP19   SCMP/Simon Song

In this May 8, 2019, photo, pigs eat feed at a pig farm in Panggezhuang village in northern China's Hebei province. As a deadly virus ravages pig herds across Asia, scientists are accelerating efforts to develop a vaccine to help guard the world's pork supply. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Chinese farmers warned to avoid illegal African swine fever vaccines

Reports that China’s pig producers are interested in pilot and untested vaccines have prompted a warning that they could pose an even greater biosecurity risk. Photo: AFP

China’s pork supply worries increase as local authorities offer discounts to quell rising anger over soaring prices

In Nanning, the capital city of southern China’s Guangxi autonomous region, coupons have been distributed since Sunday offering a 10 per cent discount on the average market price for pork over the previous 10 days. Photo: Weibo

Across China, pork prices have doubled since July, reaching record highs of 30 yuan (US$4.2) to 33 yuan per kilogram, surpassing analyst expectations. Photo: Reuters

China tapping national pork reserves will not satisfy shortage of the culturally symbolic meat, analysts warn

China is in the grip of an African swine fever epidemic that could wipe out half its pig population by the end of the year, with officials also scrambling to ratchet up pork imports to help fill the gap. Photo: EPA

China is in the grip of an African swine fever epidemic that could wipe out half its pig population by the end of the year, with officials also scrambling to ratchet up pork imports to help fill the gap. Photo: AP

China acts to curb pork price rises as African swine fever continues to hit supplies

The impact of falling production is being felt by consumers across China. Photo: EPA

The impact of falling production is being felt by consumers across China. Photo: EPA-EFE

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Authorities look for new sources of meat after the disease ravages domestic herds and pushes prices to a record level



Authorities look for new sources of meat after the disease ravages domestic herds and pushes prices to a record level.


Will pork imports from Denmark and Brazil save China’s bacon after African swine fever hits supplies?

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Authorities look for new sources of meat after the disease ravages domestic herds and pushes prices to a record level

Authorities look for new sources of meat after the disease ravages domestic herds and pushes prices to a record level