China to raise pork import as hog, sow herds shrink

Chicago

CHINA, the world's biggest pork consumer, will import 45 per cent more of the meat this year after one of the largest reductions of its hog and sow herds for several decades, according to Rabobank International.

The country has culled almost 100 million hogs and 10 million sows - equal to the herds in Mexico, US and Canada combined - over the past 18 months, Rabobank analysts Will Sawyer, Chenjun Pan and Albert Vernooij said in a report on Tuesday. Millions of small Chinese producers have exited the industry after over-expansion between 2011 and 2013 reduced profits, leaving behind the more modern, efficient businesses, according to Rabobank.