Olympics Help Curtail China Pork Consumption: USMEF
Pork consumption in China has decreased due to the 2008 Olympic Summer Games; citizens are staying at home to watch TV and avoiding restaurants and street vendors. Furthermore, increased roadway security has slowed the national distribution of pork.
Huge volumes of imported pork and poultry products have accumulated in Chinese cold stores, with some facilities nearing 100% capacity. The effects of the Olympics have included the elimination of many street vendors in China, and many people staying home to watch the games.
While consumption is on the decline due to the Olympic games, China’s herd expansion has experienced double digit annual growth in recent years, in response to industry profitability over the previous nine months. Domestic pork prices have dropped 15-20% from February, 2008, narrowing the price gap between imported and locally produced pork products.