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The consequences of African swine fever (ASP) and the corona pandemic have caused a noticeable drop in Chinese meat production in the first quarter of 2020.
CHINA; Beijing. The consequences of African swine fever (ASP) and the Corona pandemic have made the Chinese lose their appetite for pork. Sales of poultry have been increasing since the beginning of the year.
The consequences of African swine fever (ASP) and the corona pandemic have caused a noticeable drop in Chinese meat production in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same period last year. As the Beijing Ministry of Agriculture announced today on the basis of data from the National Statistics Office, meat production fell by a total of 4.39 mill. t or 19.5% to 18.13 mill. t. The main reason for this was the massive slump in pork production by 4.26 mill. t or almost 30%to 10.38 mill. t.
According to the Ministry, a total of 131.29 mill. pigs were slaughtered in the People's Republic from January to March; this was 57.14 mill. head, or 30% less than in the first quarter of 2019. The current stock level for the end of March was stated as 321 mill. head, which means that the number of pigs kept has fallen by a good 14% within twelve months. 
However, a restocking of the herd has been observed again for some months now. According to official figures, the Chinese pig population has grown by just under 11 mill. t or 3.5% in the past three months; for sows there has even been an increase of around three mill. animals or 10% to just under 34 mill.
With regard to beef production, current Chinese data show a decline of 110,000 t or 6.4% to 1.56 mill. t in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same period of the previous year. In addition, the volume of sheep meat fell by 7.7 % to 960,000 t. Only poultry meat production increased, by 1% to 5.23 mill. t. A higher growth rate is expected for poultry meat in the further course of the year.
According to the forecast in the "China Agricultural Outlook Report 2020 - 2029", a significant increase in Chinese pork imports is expected for the year as a whole, despite the recent increase in stocks in the current year. 
According to the Ministry, a total of 131.29 mill. pigs were slaughtered in the People's Republic from January to March; this was 57.14 mill. head, or 30% less than in the first quarter of 2019. The current stock level for the end of March was stated as 321 mill. head, which means that the number of pigs kept has fallen by a good 14% within twelve months.
However, a restocking of the herd has been observed again for some months now. According to official figures, the Chinese pig population has grown by just under 11 mill. t or 3.5% in the past three months; for sows there has even been an increase of around three mill. animals or 10% to just under 34 mill.
With regard to beef production, current Chinese data show a decline of 110,000 t or 6.4% to 1.56 mill. t in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same period of the previous year. In addition, the volume of sheep meat fell by 7.7 % to 960,000 t. Only poultry meat production increased, by 1% to 5.23 mill. t. A higher growth rate is expected for poultry meat in the further course of the year.
According to the forecast in the "China Agricultural Outlook Report 2020 - 2029", a significant increase in Chinese pork imports is expected for the year as a whole, despite the recent increase in stocks in the current year.
Source: az, AgE
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Beijing