December 3, 2007

Australian pork imports on steady rise

Australians' pork consumption jumped by more than one-third since 2002 to 486,000 tonnes, thus the influx of imports this year.

In 2007, imports of processed pork increased by 40 percent and now accounts for 64 percent of the processed market.

Australian Pork recently asked the government to impose trade restrictions for 12 months to allow the industry time to implement structural adjustment.

High grain prices caused local producers losses of 55 cents per kilogramme which equates to around US$35 per animal. A survey has found that about 27 percent of pig producers plan to leave the industry.