November 8, 2016

China's pig meat imports more than double in Jan.-Sept.

China's imports of fresh/frozen pork increased a whopping 160% to 516,000 tonnes during the third quarter, compared with the same period in 2015. This takes import volumes in the first nine months to 1.28 million tonnes, well over double last year's figure.

At 873,000 tonnes, the EU was the dominant provider of imported pork to China during the first nine months, AHDB Pork reported.

"Chinese pork imports have escalated this year due to insufficient domestic production, following last year's rationalisation of the breeding herd and the imposition of stringent environmental barriers hindering expansion", the pork division of the UK's Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board explained.

EU pork exports to China represented 68% of the total market share, 5% lower than during the same period last year. Within the EU, Germany held the leading export position, with volumes up 91% year-on-year. Spain and Denmark were also key players, with shipments more than doubling during this period.

Non-EU imports grew ahead of EU shipments up to the end of September, with volumes from the US doubling and those from Canada almost quadrupling. Brazil was particularly successful following its securing of market access, shipping 61,000 tonnes to China during this period and gaining a 5% share in the Chinese import market.