August 16, 2007

China H1 net pork exports at 62,000 tonnes despite shortage       
 

China exported 62,000 tonnes of pork in the first half of this year despite a pork shortage in the country, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday (Aug 16).

The country exported 246,000 tonnes of pork last year, spokesman Wang Xinpei said, citing customs data.

China's annual pork consumption of more than 50 million tonnes mainly depends on domestic output, he added.

The country's pork prices have been surging since the start of this year due in part to an outbreak of

blue ear disease among the domestic hog population.

Local consultancy Shanghai JCI said China has concluded purchasing about 20,000-30,000 tonnes of pork following its buy tender in early July.

JCI expects the country to buy more pork from overseas countries in the near future, which may increase imports to more than 100,000 tonnes, exceeding its earlier forecast.