Spain: Uncertainty rules global meat market due to COVID-19 and ASF

New outbreaks of ASF reported in CHINA and the development of the same crisis in Germany, Poland and Romania are worrying representatives of the Spanish MEAT industry.

At the latest ANICE Meat Group meeting last week, it was indicated that uncertainty will shape the global meat trade for at least a couple of years as the ASF and covid-19 outbreaks weigh on markets. New outbreaks of ASF reported in China and the development of the same crisis in Germany, Poland and Romania were mentioned as factors that will keep the demand for pork meat high in Spain with exports to Asia, and especially China , for 2-4 years. years, notes Juan Pedro Florido, Group President and COO of ElPozo Alimentacion, quoted by Carnica magazine. However, on this time horizon, a recovery in Chinese pig stocks or the opening of this market for Russian pork could come as a shock to exporters.

For his part, Jaime Yartu, President of ANICE Beef Group, explained the situation in the beef sector, which has been greatly affected by the difficulties that the hospitality industry has experienced. "Production in the European Union fell by 1.5% last year and is expected to fall another 0.5% this year," he stressed. Also, on the international stage, while new markets such as Vietnam, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines have recently opened up, exports to these countries will not be enough to cushion the impact of the closure of the Algerian market in 2020, which accounted for a significant portion of Spanish foreign trade. beef.