The embargoes imposed by China and the tightening of sanitary rules for exporting companies worry pig farmers in Santa Catarina, as approximately 60% of pork shipments from Santa Catarina are destined for the Asian country. “At least 55% of Brazilian production also goes to China. Pig farming is dependent on this market, which is a big risk because our domestic consumption is reduced. If we have any problems with the Chinese, we will not be able to absorb the surplus production. And those who will pay the bill once again are the producers”, emphasizes Losivanio Luiz de Lorenzi, president of ACCS.
MOnce again, the president of ACCS warns of the disorderly growth of pig farming in the country with the aim of meeting international demand – which corresponds to 20% of national production. “We need to keep production stable, improving productivity with a focus on reducing costs. Many companies are growing haphazardly aiming at exports, which is a risky market.”
Of the 181 thousand tons of pork exported by Santa Catarina in 2020, 108 thousand were destined for China. “We need to diversify the international market and improve domestic consumption. We also need to have control over pig production, although many think this is a utopia”, says Losivanio.
THE EMBARGOS
The Brazilian government fears further suspensions of slaughterhouses by China, in addition to the three units that have already had their exports blocked by Beijing due to the tightening of sanitary restrictions on food imports in the country.
According to national media reports, two more plants are expected to be suspended by China, which has increased the number of requests for information to Brasília about cases of employee contamination by Covid-19. In addition to beef and chicken establishments, the Chinese also asked questions about pig slaughter plants of companies of all sizes.
Before the first suspensions, 102 meatpacking plants in Brazil were authorized to export to China, the main destination for national shipments. Even though the number of suspended plants is small so far, Brasília seeks to understand the technical criteria that have been used by Beijing to embargo the plants, even if temporarily.
In the assessment of the president of ACCS, Losivanio Luiz de Lorenzi, all companies that export are adopting strict measures to guarantee coronavirus-free production. “We didn’t have any serious problems within the companies. In rural areas there was no record of properties closed due to Covid-19”.
Source: Industrial Pig Farming
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