October 8, 2007

Canadian pork exporters sees growing demand from China

Growing pork demand in China should help Canada increase its exports to the country, an official from Canada Pork International said.

Martin Lavoie, assistant executive director of Canada Pork International said the outlook for Canadian pork exporters was "very good" , given the high prices in the country .

He further added that China was the "hottest" market for Canadian pork over the past year.

Although China recently suspended shipments from Maple Leaf Foods' pork processing plant in Brandon, Manitoba, due to ractopamine concerns, Lavoie said China is expected to place more orders over the long term.

Besides the traditional pork products, Lavoie also sees an expanded range of products being exported such as bone-in ham and more muscle meats.

China is traditionally a major buyer of offals and lower quality cuts, but the rising economic power of the population would also prompt them to look for higher-value products, he said.

Canada could export 100,000 tonnes of pork to China in 2007, if so, it would be double the 44,000 tonnes exported in 2006, Lavoie said.

The China market may have come in the nick of time to take up the vacuum left by Romania, Lavoie said. Although Canada exported 40,000 tonnes to the country in 2006, Romania has slashed demand since joining the EU, he pointed out.

The pork that Canada exports to China is only a tiny fraction of the country's demand. There is probably a greater pork market in China than Canada can hope to fill, he said.