China is the world's largest producer, consumer and importer of pork and belongs to the countries with the highest pig prices With the year 2016, China experienced a recent low point of own generation and the consumption of pork, though replaced Japan from his previous top spot as an importer with 1.25 million tonnes. The extrapolation for 2016 is a Chinese import volumes increased by 2.4 million tonnes. Compared to the previous year, an increase of 106% calculated. The lion's share with about 70% of China imports falls on the EU, which had significant amounts of capacity available after the Russia import ban. The low at the beginning of the year 2016 EU prices combined with a weak euro exchange rate gave the EU competitive advantages over the competitors from North and South America. Compared to previous years, export revenues increased to approximately €1.50 / kg for a revised up typical China export range of less valuable pieces. Compared to the United States could realize only limited export increases, because the tendency for the strength of dollar rate imports rose and the growth promoters not allowed in China "Ractopamine" stood in the way. In EU pork prices in the summer months even the simultaneous price crash in the United States has not suddenly evolve the export volumes. Expected for the year 2017 in China a first wave of the restocking the pig and pork production, but not yet reached the level of previous years. Stimulate high pig prices lowered feed prices on the one hand while high investment in medium and large production units, but there are considerable difficulties as a result of significantly higher environmental standards. The traditional pig farming in China was and is still closely linked with the population centers. The disposal of waste from pig farms is connected to significant overhead in limited space. In addition there are repeatedly setbacks by epidemics like PEDv and in southern China as a result of flooding losses. The decline of the backyard attitudes in addition requires a balanced investment. Despite moderate economic and income growth is Chinese demand after higher processed foods still available. Therefore we assume, that for 2017 rising consumption of 1.8 million tonnes to t 55,87 million can be ensured not only by the increase of own generation of estimated 53,75 Mt. Therefore remain Chinese pork imports only slightly below the levels of the previous year . Therefore the consumption level of 2014 with 57.2 million tons will but still reached. In the EU one expects a sustained Chinese demand for imports, even if it no longer is likely to remain on the same high level as in the previous year. For the subsequent years is to assume that China own generation pushed back far enough has that import demand again goes back. The increasing imports of beef for the demand win a growing importance of higher income groups.
