The use of illegal African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccines in 2020 was a factor which tempered the efforts to rebuild China's hog herd, according to the Ma Xiangjie, president of Henan Shuanghui Investment and Development, WH Group's domestic unit.
In remarks to reporters after the release of WH Group annual earnings, Ma said commented on impact of illegal vaccines. “Since the second half of last year some pig producers in China, especially south of the Yangtze river, used some immature pig vaccines and caught African Swine Fever again," said Ma.
The WH Group processed 46% of its hogs in China in 2020 compared with 2019 due to tight supplies, Ma, noted, with capacity utilization at its plants reduced to 30%.
But imports of 700,000 metric tons of pork, beef and poultry helped make up with shortfall, with 70% of the imports coming from the U.S. Ma said the firm's Chines hog price forecast has been raised due to the impact from “toxic vaccines” and said the company was expecting 2021 meat imports rise as the firm was working to expand the range and volume of products from the U.S.