China pork imports set to rise amid questions around hog herd size

China is set to increase pork imports in the coming months, industry participants said, after losses for farmers last year in the world’s top pork producer caused a reduction in hog output that appears larger than official data suggests.
Pork is by far China’s favourite meat and surging prices have driven up inflation in the world’s second-largest economy at a time of slowing growth. The country produces about half of the world’s output and fluctuations there influence hog and meat prices globally.
Chinese pork prices surged in October by 51.8% from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said, even as third-quarter output rose by 0.7% from a year earlier.
Pork prices will stay high in 2023 because of the lower supply, according to 10 industry analysts, farmers, and feed and genetics suppliers, though they cautioned demand may be impacted by China’s COVID measures.