Pork to China

[Allied Weighing]

Just been talking to people in china saying that price of pork is £14 per kilo. Is it feasible to export to china?

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Don't see why not, if it is economically viable and if a trade deal is done.

Closer countries with a lower COP will be first, such as Russia & Ukraine.

Reports suggest 200 million pigs will have been culled due to ASF, including half of China's breeding sows.

 

[Allied Weighing]

especially as the trade war is still ongoing with the US,

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

and ASF risks with native wild boar throughout continental & Eastern Europe.

The UK could be in a strong position to fill the gap.

 

[Goweresque]

I had wondered this, one would hope that the AHDB would be all over an export opportunity like this.

But I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Send them some beef while you’re on

 

[Bob the beef]

Recently had a meeting with a major pig producing company with regards to keeping B and B pigs in spare accommodation. They are massively up scaling production with a view to serious increases in pig meat prices.
Sadly that did not transmit to a sensible price for me to look after their pigs, so I have left well alone

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Yes, most of the major processors are exporting pigmeat to China, especially “fifth quarter”, a local medium sized processor will be soon, having jumped through the hoops, which include going single species.
They must all be raking in a fortune doing it, a big shame that none of it is reaching we producers.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Reports also suggested it may take 5 years to build up numbers again in China, due to lack of finances and no proper cure or treatment for ASF.

In the meantime, the Chinese have switched to eating Merino which are flooding the market due to Australia's continuing drought.

 

[bitwrx]

Yes, most of the major processors are exporting pigmeat to China, especially “fifth quarter”, a local medium sized processor will be soon, having jumped through the hoops, which include going single species.
They must all be raking in a fortune doing it, a big shame that none of it is reaching we producers.

Damn right. Our contract price went *down* this month! WTF?

In response to the OP, I've heard €3/kg in China, so not quite what you've heard, but still plenty of space for UK prices to rise.

As @Suffolk Serf says, it is possible to export to China, and certainly the processor we sell to is. As far as I can tell, it's on a plant by plant basis (i.e. each abbatoir/cutting plant would have to go through its own approval process), and it takes a while.

My understanding, from a tour of a processing plant about a year ago is that the quality, presentation and traceability requirements are higher for products exported to China, than for products going to UK supermarkets. UK pork was seen as a premium product aimed at consumers who could afford to be very discerning. Whether that's still the case, with such a hole in Chinese domestic production, I don't know.

 

[Bill the Bass]

I have said before in the past few months on here that the ASF situation in China will at some point impact prices, with the numbers involved at some point it has to for all meat based protein. To add, ASF is not just in China but other countries in eastern Asia.

 

[Brisel]

Yes, most of the major processors are exporting pigmeat to China, especially “fifth quarter”, a local medium sized processor will be soon, having jumped through the hoops, which include going single species.
They must all be raking in a fortune doing it, a big shame that none of it is reaching we producers.

Maybe I've misread that comment, but what extra risks are you taking to exploit the possible opportunity that means you should get a share of the spoils?

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Maybe I've misread that comment, but what extra risks are you taking to exploit the possible opportunity that means you should get a share of the spoils?

Just staying in the job is always a pretty big risk! with a multitude of health threats including ASF, swine dysentery and new strains of PRRS which could mean that I would have to cull out with little or no compensation.
I took huge risks to build what I've got, with no subsidies, from scratch, and having nearly lost it all a few years ago I'm now running with a very strong balance sheet to hopefully weather any storms. IMHO it would be reckless to expand in case there's a bonanza over the horizon.
Having said that, I haven't been adverse to having a go at some novel markets. A couple of years ago I set up with a processor to breed and produce a very high end pork product for the far east. That didn't work out, my fingers weren't burnt, but lessons were learned!

 

[teslacoils]

Makes me laugh each time.