National & World Ag News Headlines China's Demand for U.S. Pork Getting Stronger USAgNet - 11/08/2019 Forecasts for U.S. pork exports for 2019 and 2020 were recently raised, due in large part to expectations of continued significant growth in Chinese demand for U.S. pork. China's demand for imported pork has accelerated as African Swine Fever (ASF) spread throughout China during 2018-19. While ASF does not affect human beings, it kills most infected swine and presently has no vaccine nor a cure. In September 2019, China's inventory of swine was down 41 percent from a year earlier, as many farmers slaughtered swine to prevent herds from becoming infected. By mid-October, China's hog and pork prices had roughly doubled from previous-year levels as pork supplies tightened. To partially fill its supply shortfall, China increased pork imports from the United States and about 10 other countries. Despite 2018 retaliatory tariffs and taxes imposed by the Government of China of up to 78 percent on most U.S. pork products, 2019 U.S. exports of pork to China have increased 91 percent, through August. Total U.S. pork exports in 2019 are forecast at 6.85 billion pounds, 12 percent higher than a year earlier. In 2020, total U.S. pork exports of 7.3 billion pounds are anticipated to be 11 percent above 2019. Send this article to a friend Other National Headlines China Ends Ban on U.S. Poultry Imports Brazil's Tariff Rate Quota for Wheat a Win for U.S. Farmers Short Supply of Propane Across Midwest KC Fed: Farm Finances Continue to Weaken in 3Q USDA: Adults Using Food Labels Consume Less Calories Biodiesel Industry, Stakeholders Ask Congress to Act on Tax Extenders Hoeven: USDA Defers Interest on 2019 Crop Insurance Premiums Copyright © 2019 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.