Special Report

Chinese feed officials foresee swine slowdown

On Saturday in Nanchang, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) trade delegation met with Yuan Ji Hong, procurement center general manager with Twins Group, the largest producer of swine feed in China.

Yuan Ji Hong confirmed what was heard during previous feed company visits—that pork production in southern China has “flattened out” in recent months and may be entering a period of decline. The question is whether this is simply part of a normal production cycle or if it represents a larger long-term shift in Chinese eating habits towards less pork and more fish and poultry.

While that information could mean a slowdown in China’s torrid soybean purchasing pace, ISA director Grant Kimberley cautioned that China officials do have a tendency to underestimate their pork production and feed usage figures.

We asked mission participant Wayne Fredericks, a farmer from Osage, Iowa and president-elect of ISA, for his thoughts on what he’s heard about China’s swine feeding situation and what it might mean to Iowa soybean growers.

AUDIO: Wayne Fredericks