China Beef and Mutton Imports Soared in Jan.-Oct. 2013

By CnAgri2013-12-20 09:31:45 Print

Influenced by grazing prohibition and rational grazing, the amounts of mutton sheep declined in prairie. Meanwhile, scatter-feeding still dominated mutton sheep breeding in agricultural areas and semi-pasture areas. Infrastructure construction and breeding technology need developing and large-scaled breeding and breeding community develop slowly. Thus, domestic inventory and slaughter of ewes, lambs and mutton sheep continue declining in 2013 and mutton production is predicted to be 3.65 million MT.

With sustained growth of domestic mutton consumption, imbalance between mutton supply and demand is more obvious. Both wholesale and retail price for domestic mutton keep high. Compared with domestic mutton, imported mutton has significant advantage. To meet domestic market demand, especially consumption in catering industry, mutton trade increases greatly. By Oct. 2013, mutton imports increased 117.93% YOY.

From “China Livestock and Feed Market Weekly Report”