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Review & Outlook
Brief Review of Livestock Industry for the First Half of 2003
1. Import and export of livestock products: the exports were maintained at the similar level as the 2002¨ s while the import increased significantly.
During the first six months of 2003, the total export of livestock products in China was1.332 billion USD, an increase of 0.35% from the same period of 2002. Amongst that the total export of swine products was 286 million USD, an increase of 5.5% from the first half of 2002; the export of poultry products was 413 million USD, a decrease of 10.2% from the same period of 2002. The total import of livestock products in China was 1.222 billion USD in the first six months, an increase of 26.6% from the same period of 2002. Amongst that total import of swine products was 89 million USD, an increase of 44.9% from the first half of 2002; the import of poultry products was 196 million USD, a decrease of 7.8% from the same period of 2002.
The total export of aquacultures and seafood products was 2.356 billion USD for the first six months of 2003, increased 16.4% for the first six moths of 2002. The total export of aquacultures and seafood products was 1.071 billion USD for the first six months of 2003, increased 0.78% for the first six moths of 2002.
2. Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) placed emphasis on the development of beef cattle and meat goats/sheep.
MOA has made the plan to strengthen the development of beef cattle in two areas: Middle China and Northeastern China and to develop the meat goats/sheep in four areas: the middle and east section of Inner Mongolia, north part of Hebei, Northwest and Southwest China.
It is planned to provide financial support and technical service to the large cattle-raising households and large goats/sheep-raising households. The large animal-raising household must have the inventory of 50-100 head animals or more.
The quality breeds and genetics will be introduced to those areas to improve the productivity and meat quality. AI technology and frozen semen will be used for beef cattle production and the quality male breeding goats/sheep will be supplied for the existing goat/sheep breeding stations/farms. Maybe some new breeding farms will be established.
The objective is to increase the beef cattle production 30% in 3 years in the 62 designated project counties. The production of quality goat/sheep meat will be increased to 20% of the total production.
3. The companies that mainly export poultry products have suffered a lot because of SARS.
During the second quarter, the Japanese government banned the import of poultry products from China, which has caused some serious financial loss for some major poultry product exporters. The exports were banned or limited by the Japanese government and other import countries. The companies had to continue to materialize the contracts with the meat chicken producers. Reduced sales and continually increasing the inventory put those companies at a very difficult position and this could lead the non-profitable year for those companies.
4. Both pork production and pork consumption reduced in the second quarter.
The increases of market prices for corn and soybean meal in March/April had led the decrease of pig production by the small pig-raising households. The summer usually is the lowest season on pork consumption. SARS broke had made the thing even worse. People concern the food safety of pork and pork products and reduced the consumptions.
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