February 28, 2023

Farmers in France look forward to increased pork trade as China reopens

French farmers are hoping China's reopening — after it lifted many of its COVID-19 measures — will also unlock more trade in pork and beef exports.

"Exporting to China is crucial for us," Francois Valy, president of the country's pork federation, the FNP, told CGTN Europe. "Otherwise, we have trade with Europe, but it is a trade and not an export."

Valy was speaking at one of the world's largest agricultural shows, the Paris International Agricultural Show.

China had been due to publish audits of French pork facilities carried out in 2015, which would clear them to enter Chinese markets.  It's hoped these long awaited inspections could hold the key to boosting trade at a time when the appetite for pork and beef products is on the rise.

According to the national pork association, France exported 130,000 tonnes to China in 2022. Some estimates put the trade at $45 million per quarter. The approval of pork producers is a key concern for French agriculture officials.

It's been more pressing in recent years as China's domestic pork production has been hit by outbreaks of African swine fever. Valy is hopeful trade with China can boost an industry which like others around the world is suffering the effects of high inflation, an ageing workforce and a lack of younger people coming into the industry.

He said Chinese importers are interested in parts of the pig that others are not.

- CGTN