November 20, 2006

China's livestock trade deficit widens

China's livestock product export trade deficit widened for the past three quarters compared to the same period last year, according to statistics from China's Ministry of Agriculture.

China's livestock trade deficit was up 30.2 percent, reaching US$630 million. While export value increased 4.0 percent to US$2.76 billion, import value grew 8.0 percent to US$3.39 billion.

Compared with the same period of last year, China's pork product export was at US$730 million, up 1.3 percent. Import was at US$120 million, a decline of 13.5 percent.

Poultry exports was at US$690 million, growing 3.8 percent on-year while imports reached US$340 million.

Aquaculture saw the greatest widening in the gap between imports and exports. Exports increased 17.2 percent during the last three quarters, reaching US$6.47 billion while imports reached US$3.29 billion, a growth of 3.8 percent. The deficit widened by 35.2 percent to US$ 3.19 billion.

Figures for beef and mutton exports and imports were not released.