Brazil pig producers expand opportunities with US export approval

2012 has started with good news for the Brazilian pig industry, with the announcement of the opening of the U.S. market to imports of Brazilian pig meat.
In 2011, Hong Kong moved into first place among those markets that buy pig meat from Brazil, with Russia falling to second place. According to the Brazilian pig meat producers’ and exporters’ association, ABIPECS, from January to December 2011, Brazil exported 129,734 tons to Hong Kong, an increase of more than 30% in comparison with 2010. By value, sales reached US$323.78 million, an increase of 61.79%. Sales to Russia over the period fell to 126.449 tons, down by 45.96%. By value, the contraction stood at 40%.
Taking into account the Russian sanitary embargo in 2011, with the consequent reduction of sales of some 50%, Brazil closed 2011 with a result that was better than expected. There was a small decrease in exports of pig meat — 4.4% by volume — and an increase in value of 7%. In total, Brazil exported 516,419 tons of pig meat worth US$1.43 billion. Between January and December 2011, there was increase in average prices of approximately 12%. Ranked by importance, the main customers for Brazilian pig meat are Hong Kong, Russia, Ukraine, Argentina and Angola.
The approval of Brazilian pig meat by the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service “ends a long process of approval for Brazilian exports," said the president of ABIPECS Pedro de Camargo Neto. "It is now up to the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture to publish which processing plants have been officially recognized. We don’t expect to export a lot; however, this represents an indisputable seal of approval."

China to import UK pig meat

Pork prices are currently at record levels in China.

The Chinese market has opened for British pig meat after years of delicate negotiations, with six UK plants approved to export “fifth quarter” as well as other quality pork cuts to the country.
Both product and export health certificates have been approved and a formal announcement was made during a UK-China summit in London on June 28, during the Chinese premier’s visit to the UK. “This is wonderful news and something we have been working towards for several years," said British Pig Executive Chairman Stewart Houston. “The process has been a long one, but one of the milestones was the signing of the export health certificate agreement by UK Business Secretary Vince Cable and ministers from the Chinese quarantine inspectorate in November last year.”
According to Houston, pork and pork product prices are currently at record levels in China. "We have a fantastic opportunity to improve returns from selling all parts of the pig," he said. “This is much needed as pig prices in this country still lag behind the cost of production caused by continuing high feed costs and other rising input prices.”
China is both the biggest producer and consumer of pig meat in the world, producing 46 million metric tons a year, but consuming still more. Depending on how the trade develops, BPEX International Manager Peter Hardwick said the market could soon be worth as much as £40 million a year.

Cambodia bans live pig imports

Cambodia has banned the import of live pigs amidst fears that the animals might be infected with blue-ear pig disease, according to the AFP.
"The so-called blue-ear pig disease is spreading and is now present in Cambodia," said Prime Minister Hun Sen. Outbreaks of the disease had already been reported in the neighboring countries of Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, and now the disease is thought to have already killed hundreds of pigs in Cambodia. Pork is a key source of food and an important commodity in the country; more than 1,000 pigs a day are imported to meet demand and most small family farms in rural areas have at least one pig.