July 17, 2020

China's pork production drops for seventh consecutive quarter

Pork output in China dropped in the April – June period, the seventh time in a row as the country continues to grapple the African swine fever outbreak that decimated its massive swine herd, Reuters reported.

A Reuters calculation of China's National Bureau of Statistics data showed pork production dropped 4.7% in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2019 at 9.6 million tonnes. The statistics data showed a 19.1% decrease between January to June this year. But this is a good sign when compared to the one-third drop in 2019's fourth quarter output.

The National Bureau of Statistics said 251.03 million swine was slaughtered in China between January to June 2020, 20% lower compared to the same six month period in 2019.

Swine herd numbers were down 2.2% year-on-year to 339.96 million head at end-June. However, it is up when compared to the 321.2 million at end-March.

Rabobank analysts said pork production is expected to drop 20% in 2020, after a 16-year low of 42.6 million tonnes last year.

But production could resume as sow herds increase. Data from statistics bureau showed sow herds reached 36.29 million head at end-June, a 5.4% increase compared to 2019. This is 7.3% higher than the 33.81 million head at end-March.

Production for beef, poultry, pork and mutton was 34.89 million tonnes in the first half of 2020, an 11% drop year-on-year.

-  Reuters