SHANGHAI, June 10 (Reuters) – China’s average hog price fell in the week to June 10, data from the country’s agriculture ministry showed on Friday, as farmers rushed to sell pigs due to concerns about the spread of African swine fever..
The average live hog price in China, the world’s top pork producer, was 26.98 yuan ($4.03) per kg on June 10, down 0.8% from a week earlier, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement on its website..
The price decline came as the number of African swine fever cases in China continued to rise, with new outbreaks reported in several provinces including Sichuan, Guizhou and Henan in recent weeks..
African swine fever is a highly contagious and deadly disease that can kill pigs within days. There is no cure or vaccine for the disease, and it can be spread through contact with infected animals or their products..
The latest outbreak of African swine fever in China has raised concerns that the country could face a shortage of pork, a staple meat in the Chinese diet. Pork prices have already risen sharply in recent months due to the disease, and analysts say they could continue to climb in the coming months..
In addition to the concerns about African swine fever, the hog price decline was also attributed to increased pork supply as farmers rushed to sell their pigs before they get infected, analysts said..
