MNI POLICY: China Says to Boost Meat Imports to Ease Shortage

     BEIJING (MNI) - China will continue to increase the import of meat products

and draw down on government reserves to ease a pork shortage and meet rising

demand ahead of the Chinese New Year in late January, spokesman Ministry of

Commerce spokesman Gao Feng said at a briefing on Thursday.

     Meat imports are expected to exceed six million tonnes this year, including

over three million tonnes of pork and its by-products, Gao said. Importers are

encouraged to expand sourcing origins, he added.

     The average wholesale price of pork in 36 cities was CNY43.66 per kilogram

last week, a decrease of 16.5% from early November, due to increased number of

hogs, frozen meat and imports, Gao said.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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