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17 Aug 2005

Agriculture

Streptococcus in Pigs, China: Windfall for Thai Pork Exports

คะแนนเฉลี่ย

In early August, the Chinese authorities informed the International Organization for Animal Health (OIE) that an outbreak of Streptococcus had occurred in pigs found at eight farms in Sichuan Province in June. On July 25, 2005, Chinese laboratories confirmed an epidemic which has affected the Chinese swine industry worth CNY10 billion, or equivalent to USD1.235 billion per year.

This outbreak of Streptococcus in pigs there could mean a windfall for Thai pork exports. Over the latter half of this year, Thailand's exports of pork to Hong Kong are likely to rise thanks to the fact that Hong Kong has temporarily banned imports of pork and other kinds of meat from Sichuan Province. In 2004, Hong Kong imported 200,000 tons of Chinese pork. With this outbreak, Thai exports of fresh, chilled and frozen pork to Hong Kong are poised to increase this year after experiencing a slowdown during 2003-2004. For Thai processed pork, shipments to Japan are set to rise as a result of Thai swine products having passed a Japanese inspection, and that the Japanese authorities have also granted a duty-free import quota on Thai products as goodwill assistance to Thailand, which has been hit by drought and tsunamis.

Thailand's Exports of Fresh, Chilled, Frozen and Processed Pork
Volumes: tons

Values: Baht Millions
Category
2003*
2004*
2005**
Volume
Value
Volume
Value
Volume
Value
Fresh, chilled and frozen pork
9,493

(-15.5)
823

(-27.0)
5,520

(-41.9)
524

(-36.3)
7,800

(41.3)
620

(18.3)
Processed pork
2,851

(50.9)
308

(42.6)
4,325

(51.7)
570

(85.0)
7,200

(66.5)
1,880

(229.8)
Total
12,344

(-5.9)
1,131

(-15.8)
9,845

(-20.2)
1,094

(-3.3)
15,000

(52.4)
2,500

(128.5)

Source: *Department of Livestock Development

**Forecast by Association of Pork Producers and Processors for Exports

Thailand's exports of pork are set to increase steadily both to Hong Kong and Japan, as well as other new markets in the region. In particular, there are Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, South Korea, Taiwan, Brunei and China. Cooperation between related public and private agencies to upgrade swine husbandry, slaughterhouses and factories will likely make Thai pork more widely accepted internationally.

Agriculture

Pork