China likely to become net beef importer 

China is likely to be a net importer of beef as early as this year due to increasing demand and a shortfall in local supply, according to Rabobank International.

China has been a net exporter of beef since 2004, when the country banned imports from the US due to mad cow disease. Annual net exports have been between 10,000 and almost 60,000 tonnes.

In the first four months of this year, however, net exports of beef came to only 1,286 tonnes, according to customs data.

Demand is likely to increase to 7.4 million tonnes in 2015, up 23% from six million tonnes in 2008, due to improving living standards, Pan said. Meanwhile, the country is likely to import more feed grain rather than importing pork to meet local demand, she said, citing a shortage of land for grain production.