May 6, 2020

 

More US pork exported to China, meat slaughter averages falling

 

 

Supplies of United States pork are being exported to China even as the United States is close to a meat supply crisis due to COVID-19, reported Reuters.

 

However, the plant to increase meat exports to China was aimed at meeting demand from China and boost US businesses.

 

China's swine industry was severely affected by the African swine fever outbreak, which was first discovered in August 2018. The world's biggest consumer for pork had its swine herds cut by as much as 40%, as China sought to approve more overseas meat plants for import to supplement its pork demand.

 

The US-China Phase 1 deal allowed China to import more pork from the United States. In addition, it also imported more United States beef and poultry too.

 

While sales to China increased in April, the major US meat plants were forced to shut down as workers became infected with COVID-19. Livestock in farms are at a backlog as there aren't enough slaughterhouses opened.

 

According to the US Census Bureau, in March, 95,892 tonnes of pork and pork products were exported from the United States to China. This is the second highest export volume total, just behind 102,177 tonnes reported in December last year.

 

Between January to March 2020, the United States exported 280,507 tonnes of pork and products to China. This is three times more compared to 2014 and 300% higher when compared to the same period in 2019. In 2019, China imported only 573,988 tonnes of pork and pork products from the United States.

 

Altogether, total United States pork exports globally was 291,456 tonnes in March.

 

In the first three months of this year, beef and poultry exports to China from the United States was 1% and 5% of all its meat exports. Chicken feet remains the highest poultry product to be exported to China.

 

Total meat exported from the United States to China reached US$781 million between January to March this year.

 

US meat output is decreasing due to major meat plant shutdowns. Average daily slaughter for swine fell 21% in the week ended May 1 compared to the week prior, and 41% when compared to four weeks prior. Daily cattle slaughter averages dropped 9% and 33% for the same periods.

 

Current stocks of US frozen beef is at 502 million pounds, with frozen pork at 622 million pounds. This only covers one week and 1.5 weeks of domestic consumption nationwide.

 

-   Reuters