March 10, 2008
 

China's pork production to grow 1 percent in 2008

China's pork production, recovering from 2007's blue ear disease, is expected to rise one percent to 42 million tonnes, according to a USDA attache report posted on the Foreign Agricultural Services Web site.

The increased production would partially reverse a nine percent decline in 2007 caused by blue ear disease.

Since the 2007 fall came right after a sharp 2006 fall, 2008 production will likely be 16 percent less in 2005.

As a result, the slow recovery in production in the face of strong domestic demand is expected to keep pork prices high.

Struggling production combined with rapidly growing consumption is expected to push imports to 200,000 tonnes in 2008 while exports would decline six percent to 330,000 tonnes, the report said.

Reasons for the short supplies include low production, higher domestic prices and the appreciating Renminbi, which has risen 13 percent against the US dollar since July 2005.