Inside Pigs
Is Chinese imported meat left out because of corona?
Chinese consumers are increasingly switching to domestically produced (pork) meat, Chinese media report. This is because the coronavirus has been found several times on meat from foreign destinations. Meanwhile, the Chinese pig price continues to rise, which can be seen as confirmation of this.
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For a while are imported food products seen by China as a potential source of corona infection. According to Chinese authorities, the coronavirus has been found on imported food, including meat and fish, several times in recent months. From that point of view, several slaughterhouses, including Vion and Van Rooi Meat in the Netherlands, were faced with export bans last summer, which have now been lifted again. Yet Chinese consumers appear to be wary of foreign foods.
Foreign meat from the shelf
Chinese media write that several supermarket chains are removing imported food products, such as meat, from the shelves to reassure consumers. The French supermarket chain Carrefour, which has many branches in the Asian country, would participate in this. Major restaurant chains are also taking New Zealand lamb off the menu and offering domestically produced alternatives.
The alleged switch is striking, because many Chinese traditionally prefer imported food over domestically produced meat or milk powder due to domestic food scandals in the past. In any case, judging by the meat import figures, a decline can indeed be seen. In November, China imported 775.000 tons of meat. A large volume, but considerably less last summer when the 1 million tonne limit was exceeded.
Meat imports down, pork prices up
Another indicator is the Chinese pig price, which has risen quite rapidly since November and ended the year at the highest level of 2020. In recent weeks, the average pork price in China rose by 25% to above 36,50 yuan per kilo.
In view of the growing pig herd, that according to China itself is back to 90% of the 'old level', the increase is striking. This explains the lower meat import figures in November. Chinese market analysts write that live pigs are unavailable, even though the pig herd has increased.
In the meantime, the Chinese government remains alert to corona at slaughterhouses. For example, a location of the Brazilian meat company Aurora Alimentos has recently been denied access to China, probably because of corona. China has not yet given an official statement.