China's pig woes may aid SA farmers
Swine fever could drive up prices for local producers
South African pig farmers, who have struggled to bring home the bacon due to low prices this year, could benefit from a swine fever problem in China, the world's largest producer of the white meat. An African swine fever (ASF) outbreak, which is hampering production in the world's most populous nation, is expected to put upward pressure on global pork prices, according to Johann Kotze, CEO of the South African Pig Producers Organisation. Kotze said if China lost part of its domestic pork production, it would have to import pork and that would put pressure on some markets and drive up demand in others. The price of pork at the farm gate in SA is now even lower than it was a year ago when a listeria outbreak depressed prices. But at the same time, consumers struggle to afford pork because of high retail prices that do not get passed through to producers, and a tough economy which has devastated disposable income. "I think the good news is Europe is going to support [China] big time an...
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