The per capita consumption of pork in China has almost doubled
since 1990, said Deng Fujiang, deputy director and secretary
general of China Meat Association, at the world pork
conference.
Each Chinese consumed 20 kg of pork in 1990 and the figure stood
at 39.6 kg in 2006, Deng said. The business volume of pork market
also rose from 6.2 million tons to 25 million tons during the
period.
Deng attributed the rise of pork prices in China since May to
the long-term low profit and small scale of pig farms, increased
risks of epidemic diseases and booming market demand.
Deng made the remarks at the Fourth World Pork Conference
organized by the International Meat Secretariat and China Meat
Association that began in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu
Province, on Sunday.
The pork conference attracted about 800 participants from 38
countries and regions.
Under the theme of "bringing China to the world, bringing the
world to China", Patrick J. Moore, president of IMS, noted that the
current International conference "is taking place against the
background of enormous changes being witnessed in the global meat
market".
"Meat demand is strong and growing," he said, "at the same time,
international trade in meat continues to grow and is remarkably
resilient despite the impacts of animal disease outbreaks and
market access issues."
During the two-day conference, issues concerning pork
production, pork consumption trend, new technology and new products
as well as global pork trade and policies shall be discussed.
IMS, founded in 1974, brings together meat and livestock
organizations throughout the world. China is the first Asian
country to host the conference. The 5th China International Meat
Industry Exhibition shall be held at the same time.
(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2007)