Swine fever prompts fears of schnitzel shortage
November 30, 2019
Germany's BVDF meat industry association on Saturday sounded a "schnitzel alarm" as farmers and food producers struggled to deal with the impact of widespread outbreaks of African swine fever in China.
Although there has yet to be a case in Germany, and the fever is harmless to humans, the BVDF said consumers must prepare for significant price hikes for bacon, sausages and even Schnitzel — breaded and fried pork cutlets.
"Sausage will definitely be more expensive [next year]," BVDF President Sarah Dhem told the German tabloid Bild.
Read more: Swine fever: Scientists warn quarter of world's pigs could die
Prices have tripled
Dhem said that European producers have yet to pass on the tripling in price of many pork products, including fatback and pork shoulder, due to an ultracompetitive market.
She added that the crisis had pushed many German firms to the edge of bankruptcy and that price hikes were now inevitable.
China has culled more than 1 million pigs since the fever first appeared in August 2018, although some experts think the official figures have been vastly underestimated.
Read more: African swine fever: What you need to know
China imports double
In an attempt to contain price rises for consumers, China is on course to more than double imports of pork products to over 3 million tons by the end of the year, according to government estimates.
"The Chinese are buying what they can on the world market," market analyst Tim Koch told Bild. He predicted that the epidemic would hit global prices for several years.
Shipments of pork products from the European Union to China rose 37% between January and April, according to European Commission figures.
China has also lifted import restrictions on American poultry products imposed five years ago due to an outbreak of avian flu.
Pork prices have already reached record highs in China, although the release of strategic reserves of frozen products have helped to stabilize prices.
Reserves freed up
In addition to importing more pork, China plans to release more meat from its reserves to "ensure that demand is met" for upcoming Lunar New Year festivities in January, Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said on Thursday.
Read more: Denmark starts building anti-swine border fence
Meanwhile, African swine fever continues to move closer to Europe's No. 1 economy. Ten days ago, 20 wild boars died of the fever in Poland's Lubuskie region, which borders Germany.
The boar carcasses were found in a forest-covered area, away from farms, officials said.