Page 263 of articles about markets-economics in Swine news

During the first five months of 2009 French exports of live pigs increased by 11% (228,000 head) while imports of live animals decreased by 6% (87,000 head) On the contrary, porcine production fell by 1.1% in the same period. (Original in French. Read Google translation here).

Areas currently suffering the worst drought in China are the three northeastern provinces, along with the eastern sector of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. These locations boast important farm land for corn, the major feed for swine.

Producers Livestock Marketing Association, National Farmers Union and Allied Producers Cooperative are calling on USDA to evaluate the pork market impact of a $200-million, federally funded sow buy-out program to reduce pork supplies.

The figures indicate that there are a little less piglets in the Danish stables and fewer slaughter pigs as well.

USDA reported total pork in cold storage on July 31 at 547.3 million pounds, up 8.3 percent from a year ago and near 25 percent above the five-year average, according to analysts reviewing the report.

The Government of Canada is delivering a comprehensive restructuring plan for pork producers by investing in key marketing initiatives to get more customers buying Canadian pork, providing government-backed credit to help viable operations weather the current economic uncertainty and helping struggling operations to transition out of the industry.

Exports are down 14.3% for the first six months of the year. This still represents 416,000 t. of pork.

Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and Federal Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz, today confirmed that Panama has approved Canada's meat inspection system.

South Korea said on Tuesday it would resume imports of live swine from North America, lifting a ban imposed since the outbreak of H1N1 flu in April.

China’s National Statistic Bureau's latest report stated that as at the end of July, domestic pork prices showed a consecutive upward trend for eight weeks.

The European Commission has published its annual report on barriers to trade and investment in the United States. The report focuses on some key trade barriers and measures that prevent EU exporters from tapping into the full potential of the US market. It notes some continuing concerns and highlights a number of new barriers introduced in 2008.

Pork prices in the Philippines are likely to go up as backyard pig production continues to fall due to diseases and rising production costs.

Thailand’s food production fell 3.5% in the first six months of this year as the credit crunch lowered demand for food products.

Philippine meat processors will no longer need to secure a license from the Bureau of Food and Drugs, but need only to get accreditation from the National Meat Inspection Service once the administrative order to eliminate the functional overlap is signed.

The House on Thursday passed legislation to require more frequent inspections of food-processing plants and to give the government the authority to order the recall of tainted foods.

The government has announced it will spend over £100m redeveloping the laboratory blamed for the 2007 foot and mouth outbreak.