Global Trade
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Chinese meat imports are likely to decline after tighter controls like testing containers of frozen food for the presence of the coronavirus.
CHINA, Beijing. China imported 4.75 mill. t of meat including offal in the first six months of the year, customs data showed on Tuesday, up 73.5% on the same period a year ago. Chinese buyers boosted overseas meat purchases after a collapse in domestic pork production caused by an epidemic of African swine fever that has swept the country since 2018.
China imported 896,000 t of meat including offal in June, the data from the General Administration of Customs showed, up 9.8% from 813,000 t in May, reports Reuters. Customs did not provide comparable year-ago June meat import figures. 
Imports are expected to fall in coming months after China started testing containers of frozen food for the presence of the coronavirus, slowing trade. The country has also suspended imports from more than 20 overseas suppliers after coronavirus outbreaks among workers.
In a separate statement, customs said, China’s January to June pork imports were up 140% at 2.12 mill. t while beef imports rose 42.9% at 997,000 t. Customs did not give a breakdown of June pork and beef imports. China’s imports of pork meat alone in March, April and May have been around 400,000 t each month, double the level of previous records. 
Source: Reuters