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China’s live hog production is still growing while consumption growth remains sluggish, leaving a lack of foundation for a rebound of live hog prices, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
By the end of June, the number of breeding sows stood at 42.96 million heads, 4.8% higher than a normal level and at the upper limit of reasonable range for live hog capacity adjustment, it said.
The number of newborn piglets in the first half of the year grew by 9.1% from a year earlier, indicating that live hog supply will increase further in the next six months, and the number of medium- and large-sized live hog herd in June was 5.9% higher than a year earlier, indicating that, as the live hogs are slaughtered in the next two months, pork supply will grow steadily in July and August it said.
The ministry will step up monitoring and pre-warning for live hog production and take target adjustment measures to ensure live hog production capacity within a reasonable range, it added.