China’s third-quarter pork production rose to its highest level in three years according to official government data.
Reuters News Agency said the rebound is led by thousands of large breeding farms which built barns in 2020. Hog production was cut in half by outbreaks of African Swine Fever in 2018.
Pork output for July to September was 12.02 million tonnes, an increase of 43 per cent from the same period last year.
China's pork output jumped 38 per cent in the first three quarters of 2021 versus a year earlier to 39.17 million tonnes, the statistics bureau said.
The third quarter was, however, lower than the 13.46 million tonnes in the second quarter.
Prices have plunged 65 per cent so far this year, prompting some farmers to sell their herds and exit, while others took the opportunity to get rid of less productive sows.
China's sow herd contracted by a half of one per cent in July compared with June, and by another nine-tenths of one per cent in August compared with July.
Canadian pork exports to China also stalled this year, in some cases to nothing.
