Lesser quantity, higher price for China's pork exports

China's pork exports slid in the first eight months of the year due to high production cost as numerous raisers went out of business and the impact from the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province still lingered.

Between January and August, China sold abroad 50,000 tonnes of pork for US$170 million, down by 52.4 percent and 15.6 percent, respectively, from the same period of last year, sources with the General Administration of Customs said.

However, average price of pork soared 77.4 percent to US$3,400 per tonne.

Of the total exports, 78 percent, or 39,000 tonnes, went to Hong Kong, down 33 percent, 4,868 tonnes to Kirghizia, down 20 percent, and 2,220 tonnes to Macao, down 31.3 percent.

Approximately 72 percent of the total, or 36,000 tonnes were sold by private businesses, down 53.7 percent, 7,172 tonnes by foreign-funded companies, down 15.7 percent, and 4,141 tonnes by state-owned enterprises, down 76.7 percent.