This year will be the first in 20 years that global meat production will fall, as the impact of African swine fever in Asia is felt worldwide.
The latest outlook from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations forecasts that word meat production will drop by 1% this year.
It will be the first drop in global meat production in 20 years.
World meat production is predicted to be around 335m tonnes (carcase weight equivalent).
China’s meat output is forecast to fall by 8%
The change is due to the massive impact of African swine fever (ASF) in China and its spread to several east Asian countries.
China’s meat output is forecast to fall by 8%, offsetting expected increases in production in the US, Brazil, the EU and Argentina.
Chinese pigmeat has been worst affected and is forecast to fall by at least 20%.
Listen to a podcast by the FAO to hear more about how Africa swine fever is impacting on families in affected countries:
US meat output will rise because of higher carcase weights, while Brazilian production is being driven by external demand. Argentina’s meat production is likely to rise, primarily on increased culling, according to the FAO.
In the European Union, total meat output is also expected to expand, albeit slower than predicted earlier due to a likely decline in bovine meat production. Pigmeat will grow due to demand from China.
World trade
World trade in meat and meat products is forecast at 36m tonnes this year, up 6.7% from 2018, mainly driven by increased imports by China.
China is expected to import 35% more meat, or an extra 2m tonnes, this year than it did last year.
In contrast, several countries are expected to import less meat, including the US and Angola.
Brazil, the European Union, the US, Argentina, Thailand and Canada are expected to supply most of the additional meat demand.
Irish exports to China are growing
China’s beef imports for this year reached 1.1m tonnes by the end of September, meaning that 2018’s total import figure of 1.039m tonnes has been passed.
The Irish share of this market increased again to 931t in September, up from 907t the previous month from the seven factories that were approved at that point to supply China.
This Irish share is small but will grow as supplies from the further 14 Irish premises approved last month come on stream over coming weeks and months.
Currently most of the 1.1m tonnes of beef imported by China is supplied by five countries.
Argentina is the biggest supplier with 22.8% of this, Brazil 21.4%, Uruguay 19.6%, Australia 17.8% and New Zealand has 14.4% share of China’s beef imports.
Read more
What can drive Irish beef price?
Chinese beef market access will be a game changer
Beef to benefit from devastation to Chinese pig herd
Keeping African swine fever out of Ireland
This year will be the first in 20 years that global meat production will fall, as the impact of African swine fever in Asia is felt worldwide.
The latest outlook from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations forecasts that word meat production will drop by 1% this year.
It will be the first drop in global meat production in 20 years.
World meat production is predicted to be around 335m tonnes (carcase weight equivalent).
China’s meat output is forecast to fall by 8%
The change is due to the massive impact of African swine fever (ASF) in China and its spread to several east Asian countries.
China’s meat output is forecast to fall by 8%, offsetting expected increases in production in the US, Brazil, the EU and Argentina.
Chinese pigmeat has been worst affected and is forecast to fall by at least 20%.
Listen to a podcast by the FAO to hear more about how Africa swine fever is impacting on families in affected countries:
US meat output will rise because of higher carcase weights, while Brazilian production is being driven by external demand. Argentina’s meat production is likely to rise, primarily on increased culling, according to the FAO.
In the European Union, total meat output is also expected to expand, albeit slower than predicted earlier due to a likely decline in bovine meat production. Pigmeat will grow due to demand from China.
World trade
World trade in meat and meat products is forecast at 36m tonnes this year, up 6.7% from 2018, mainly driven by increased imports by China.
China is expected to import 35% more meat, or an extra 2m tonnes, this year than it did last year.
In contrast, several countries are expected to import less meat, including the US and Angola.
Brazil, the European Union, the US, Argentina, Thailand and Canada are expected to supply most of the additional meat demand.
Irish exports to China are growing
China’s beef imports for this year reached 1.1m tonnes by the end of September, meaning that 2018’s total import figure of 1.039m tonnes has been passed.
The Irish share of this market increased again to 931t in September, up from 907t the previous month from the seven factories that were approved at that point to supply China.
This Irish share is small but will grow as supplies from the further 14 Irish premises approved last month come on stream over coming weeks and months.
Currently most of the 1.1m tonnes of beef imported by China is supplied by five countries.
Argentina is the biggest supplier with 22.8% of this, Brazil 21.4%, Uruguay 19.6%, Australia 17.8% and New Zealand has 14.4% share of China’s beef imports.
Read more
What can drive Irish beef price?
Chinese beef market access will be a game changer
Beef to benefit from devastation to Chinese pig herd
Keeping African swine fever out of Ireland
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