Rival pork exporters could benefit from China-EU trade tensions

SINGAPORE, June 17 (Reuters) – Pork suppliers from South America and the U.S. could gain market share in China if Beijing restricts imports from the European Union in response to escalating trade tensions, according to traders and analysts. Russia, which began exporting pork to China in February and has become an increasingly close trading partner, could also increase its meat shipments.

China’s commerce ministry announced on Monday that it had opened an anti-dumping investigation into imported pork and its by-products from the EU, following the bloc’s imposition of anti-subsidy duties on Chinese-made electric cars. The investigation could last more than a year, and any impact on EU exports will take time to emerge.

Pan Chenjun, a senior analyst at Rabobank in Hong Kong, stated, “Brazil, Argentina and the U.S. can export more pork and offal to China if exports from the European Union are restricted.” This shift could provide new opportunities for these countries to expand their market presence in China.

The potential restrictions on EU pork imports come at a time when China’s demand for pork remains high, and alternative suppliers are well-positioned to fill any gaps that may arise.