Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 5/29/19

Chinese government officials believe the ongoing African swine fever (ASF) crisis in China and other parts of Asia could send pork prices as much as 70% higher in the second half of the year, according to a local report.

Chinese government forecasters are concerned that a potential jump in pork prices in the second half will follow a nearly 16% increase in the average price of a kilogram of pork between August 2018 and this month.

Prices for pork, fruits and vegetables – key components of China’s consumer price index – all climbed at the fastest pace in six months in April, the report from the South China Morning Post noted. In contrast, USDA data indicated that hog prices in China dropped 9% for all of 2018, before ASF became a factor in supply.

More than 1.1 million pigs have been culled in China so far since the first of 133 ASF outbreaks were confirmed last August, according to figures released last week by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The disease has been confirmed in 32 provinces and regions in China and has spread to Cambodia, Mongolia and Vietnam, the agency reported.

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