China June pork imports surge 62.8% from a year earlier.
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s pork imports in June surged from the previous year, customs data showed on Tuesday, as the world’s top consumer of the meat stocked up on supplies after African swine fever has decimated domestic pig herds.
China brought in 160,467 tonnes of pork in June, up 62.8% from the same month last year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs. This was down 14% from 187,459 tonnes imported in May. CNC-PORK-IMP
The increase comes as the deadly African swine fever disease spreads across the world’s top pig herd, slashing output and pushing prices of the country’s favorite meat up.
China’s pork imports for the first six months of the year came in at 818,703 tonnes, up 26.3% from a year earlier.
And yes, China really does maintain a Strategic Pork Reserve
h/t GR