China intervenes and halts pig trade

Reports of African swine fever are pouring in in China. Now that the sixth outbreak is a fact, the Ministry of Agriculture in China has announced a transport ban in the infected areas. 

The sixth outbreak is also found in Anhui province, which is located in eastern China. It is not far from the site of the fifth outbreak. Both inside and outside China, the outbreaks are causing concern as there are rumors that there may be more outbreaks off the books. Right away transport ban the Chinese government is trying to stem the wave of outbreaks.

The transport ban means that pigs from the infected areas may no longer be transported from Sunday 2 September and this measure also applies to pork. In addition, the markets on which live pigs are traded are closing.

Pig trade flat
The measures taken by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture have major consequences. This means that the supply to the slaughterhouses will run dry, while pig farmers in turn will be left with the pigs that are ready for slaughter. In the province Henan, one of the main production regions, the transport ban has created a pig plug, resulting in falling pig prices. According to a local transporter, the entire pig trade is on its ass.

Meanwhile, the disease has spread to neighboring South Korea. While no outbreak has yet been reported in South Korean pig farming, the virus has been detected in pork imported from China. An investigation has been launched to determine the origin of the animal disease.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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