China imported 460 thousand tons of pork in March

Last month, CHINA reached a record level of pork imports, purchasing 460,000 tons from its suppliers. According to customs data cited by the South China Morning Post, imports increased 16% from a year earlier to 460,000 tons, which also led to a record increase in total MEAT imports. According to the data, purchases in the first quarter rose by 22% to 1.16 million tons.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, by the end of March, the country's pig stocks amounted to 415.95 million heads, which is about 30% more than a year earlier. According to official figures, this compares to 411 million pigs at the end of the first quarter of 2017, indicating that numbers have returned to pre-ASF levels in 2018.

However, other experts do not agree with the data of the National Bureau of Statistics. According to Pan Chenjun, senior livestock analyst at Rabobank, the country's pig herd has dropped by as much as 30% during the winter season due to several diseases that have affected the sector. By some estimates, a serious wave of African swine fever in recent months has wiped out at least 20% of the breeding herd in northern China. Imports, driven in part by government purchases, will remain strong in May as traders expect a recovery in domestic pork prices.