More pork worldwide in 2004

FAO supply and consumption forecast

According to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), global pork production will grow by 1,5 percent this year, with China accounting for almost all of the increase.

According to calculations by the FAO, international trade in pork will increase by a further two percent. Above all, exports from China, the USA and Canada are likely to be larger. In contrast, Brazilian pork exports will fall by almost 2004 percent in 40 after the rapid increase in recent years due to Russian import quotas. For the world's largest import market, Japan, the FAO expects an increase in the import volume of a good twelve percent to one million tons of pork.

Pork consumption is also estimated to be almost two percent higher worldwide in the current year, although the development is likely to vary greatly from region to region: the greatest growth in consumption is taking place in South America with plus six percent and in Asia with plus three percent. A moderate increase in consumption of a good one percent is predicted for North America and Africa. In contrast, experts at the FAO expect pork consumption in Europe to fall by 1,5 percent. However, per capita consumption in Europe is likely to remain the highest in the world at an average of 44,5 kilograms.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]