January 13, 2012

China will import an estimated 1.4 million tonnes of pork in 2012, up from a projected 1.1 million tonnes in 2011, according to the latest Rabobank report.

In the first nine months of 2011, China imported 870,000 tonnes of pork - the 1.1-million-tonne estimate is equal to 2% of nationwide pork consumption in 2010, said Wang Jimin, a professor from the Chinese Academy of Agriculture Science. 

Outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome have reduced China's hog supply in recent years, and since 2007 China's pork imports have increased dramatically.

Pork import volume in 2007 was 47,300 tonnes, up 115% from 2006, while remaining stable at 20,000-30,000 tonnes between 2000 and 2006. The year 2008 saw an increase of 93%, followed by a decline in 2009, and 2010 saw a 70.8% increase from 2009, the report said.