Swine fever in China creates an opportunity for Brazilian exporters

The outbreak of African swine fever in China and the resulting slaughter of the affected animals has led the government of the country to authorise imports of edible pork fat from Brazil, reported the Brazilian press.

The information, released by President Jair Bolsonaro on his Twitter feed, said the Chinese government had authorised pork exporters in Brazil to also ship the edible fat of the animal, in order to make up the lack of the product as a result of the swine fever outbreak.

“The measure comes in response to a request presented by the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein,” the president wrote, citing the association as saying that pork fat has a higher market value than traditional meat.

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply estimate that China has lost about 30% of the pigs in the country as a result of the swine fever outbreak, which creates an opportunity for Brazilian producers to increase their exports to China, the world’s largest producer and consumer of pork.

The Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Tereza Cristina, on Monday, started a 16-day tour of four Asian countries – Japan, China, Vietnam and Indonesia, with about 100 business people, parliamentarians and representatives of producer associations.