January 15, 2020

China reports increased pork and beef imports in December

Reuters' calculations of China's customs data found that the country imported four times more pork in response to increased pork demand for the upcoming Lunar New Year, reported Reuters.

According to calculations by Reuters, 375,000 tonnes of pork were imported in December 2019, compared to 95,384 tonnes in December 2018 and 229,707 tonnes in November 2019.

China's General Administration of Customs data reported a 75% increase in pork improts last year, reaching 2.108 million tonnes in total.

Zou Zhiwu, China customs vice minister said China's United States agricultural purchases reached 14.1 billion RMB (~US$2.05 billion; 1 RMB = US$0.15) in December, adding that US imports of pork and soybean have rebounded significantly.

Beef imports to China have also increased in December last year, up 80.6% to 189,000 tonnes based on calculations by Reuters. This is higher compared to 186,984 tonnes of beef imported the month prior.

Beef imports in 2019 totalled 1.66 million tonnes, a 59.7% year on year increase.

-      Reuters