China’s African swine fever epidemic has dramatically reshaped the global meat market and its trade patterns in the 18 months since the outbreak was first officially acknowledged.
The viral disease, which is deadly for pigs but does not affect humans, has reduced China’s pig herd by more than a third from a year ago with an estimated loss of 100m pigs. As a consequence, pork prices have soared to record highs and the world’s largest consumer of pork has turned to imports of not only pork but also of beef and chicken — and found a host of new suppliers.
“Nobody predicted the extent of the impact. It’s been more profound than we ever imagined,” said Adam Couch, chief executive of UK meat processor Cranswick.
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