What is happening behind the Great Wall now? Chinese breeders very quickly replenish the herd on their farms and even increase their breeding power. At the beginning of the fourth quarter of this year, production began in over 700 newly built large farms. To visualize the scale, it must be added that since the beginning of the year, 13,000 of such new farms have already been established. According to estimates by Chinese dignitaries from the Ministry of Agriculture, if this pace is maintained, the domestic pig population is expected to return to normal levels by mid-2021.
China is one of the largest consumers of pork, and this meat is the most valued and desired on tables not only in Beijing. The falling supply caused a very strong increase in pork prices, even by 46.7% compared to August 2018.
What is currently being observed in China's conduct in the pork sector? In October this year. more than 80% more pork was imported than last year. The introduced ban on imports from Germany resulted in an increase in exports from Spain, Brazil, the USA and Canada. Experts read only one reason: winter stocks. According to the USDA (the United States Department of Agriculture, in short the Ministry of Agriculture), Chinese corn imports will increase to 22 million tons. This is a clear sign that the recovery of pig production is in full swing and the demand for feed grains will increase.
Is this a signal to European pork producers that the boom in the Chinese market is becoming history? Time for sustainable production or searching for new markets? Many questions and probably ambiguous answers.