Sunday, September 30, 2012

Rabobank Report: China's demand for pork could see corn imports reach 20 million tonnes per year

From the Charlotte Herald:
— /PRNewswire/ -- Rabobank has published a new report looking at China's increasing role in the global pork industry, particularly the rising influence that China's fluctuating imports have in affecting global supply and demand balances and prices.

In the report, titled "The Industrialization of China's Pork Supply Chain," Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group says that if current trends in China's pork production and industrialization continue, corn imports could approach 20 million tonnes per year within a five-year time frame.  This is one of the changes in the landscape of China's pork industry that will have major reverberations on world markets.

The pace and success of the industrialization that is rapidly taking place across China's pork sector will be a major determinant of whether China will move back towards self-sufficiency or become an even bigger importer. If China could improve its corn yields and swine feed conversion ratios towards U.S. levels, then goals of self-sufficiency are achievable.  If China does not have to import pork, it would need to import corn, and if current trends in China's pork production and industrialization continue, corn imports would rise significantly....MORE

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/09/26/4293366/rabobank-report-chinas-demand.html#storylink=cpy