May 18, 2021

China's pork production up 20% from 2020

China's pork production is expected to reach 50 million tonnes in 2021, up 20% from 2020, and pork prices will continue to drop as a result, according to a research report published by the Rural Development Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences this month.

The accumulation of experience in dealing with African swine fever in recent years and COVID-19 measures will prop up hog production on a speedy growth this year, the report stated.

In 2020 China's total meat supply and consumption grew moderately, despite the pandemic.

The total meat supply exceeded 87 million tonnes in 2020, an increase of more than 3.5% from 2019 — mainly driven by rising import of pork and beef, of which the pork imports hit 5.73 million tonnes last year registering an increase of 79.1%.

It is expected that total meat supply will further increase by 10 million tonnes to reach 95 million tonnes in 2021, said Li Guoxiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The import of meat is likely to increase to exceed 10 million tonnes this year, Li added.

The national wholesale pork prices dropped to ¥32.33 (US$5.02)  per kilogramme in April, down from ¥46.71 (US$7.25) recorded in January, marking a continuous decline over four months, data from China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs showed.

Driven by the steep increase in market supply, pork price is likely to dip throughout 2021 though with some fluctuations, Li said.

- Global Times