Meat and Meat Products: Market Summary

Struggling with high feed prices and stagnating consumption, global meat production in 2012 is forecast to grow by less than two per cent to 302 million tonnes. As falling industry profitability has translated into modest output gains in the developed countries, most of the world expansion is likely to take place in the developing countries, which now account for 60 per cent of world output. Virtually all of the sector growth in 2012 is forecast to stem from the feed-dependent poultry and pig meat sectors, as gains in both bovine and sheep meat outputs are anticipated to be modest.

World meat market at a glance

Concerns about the profitability of the meat sector have been compounded by a weakening of the growth of export markets, with trade expansion anticipated to slow down to two per cent from eight per cent in 2011. Global meat exports are expected to edge up by about 600 000 tonnes to 29.4 million tonnes in 2012, mainly sustained by increased poultry and pig meat flows and with much of the market expansion likely to be captured by developing countries, in particular Brazil and India.

Escalating feed prices and slowing meat production growth have pushed up international meat prices in late 2012, to levels approaching the highs attained in 2011. Accordingly, the FAO meat price index, which has jumped by five per cent since July 2012, averaged 174 points between January and October, which compares with 176 for the same period last year. Most of the recent increase in the meat price index reflect price gains for poultry and pig meat, which have soared by nine per cent and 12 per cent, respectively, since July.

FAO International Meat Price Indices
(2002-2004 = 100)

Pig Meat

Disease recovery in Asia and a downsizing of operations in developed countries sustain pig meat production in 2012

Disease recovery in Asia and a downsizing of operations through higher slaughter in many developed countries are expected to translate into a two per cent increase in world pig meat production to 110.8 million tons in 2012. This, along with a build up of pig meat stocks in some countries, is exerting short-term downward pressure on prices in some local markets. The impact, however, is likely to be short-lived, with pig meat prices on international markets already firming.

Herd liquidation is resulting in record slaughter and output in the United States while negative margins in Canada are behind pig farms bankruptcies and a contraction of output. In the EU, restructuring of the sector to comply with stringent welfare and environmental regulations is resulting in lower production. In the Russian Federation, the continued spread of African Swine Fever is anticipated to slow down output growth to two per cent in 2012, which compares with an average seven per cent in the previous four years.

Nearly 90 per cent of output gains in 2012 will be in the developing countries, specifically in Asia. In the region, policy support in China, the world's largest producer, is sustaining the sector expansion. A strong recovery from last year's FMD-depleted supplies is boosting output in the Republic of Korea while in Japan, output is returning to pre-tsunami levels. In Viet Nam, policies and investments in feed and processing are behind an expected five per cent output increase. In Mexico, the sector is expanding, underpinned by improved genetics and productivity, which are translating into increased piglets per litter and higher animal weights. On the other hand, a rapid decline in hog prices is depressing production in Thailand.

Pig meat trade continues to grow but Asia remains on the side-lines

Stagnant consumption in traditional sources of exports, such as in Canada, the EU and the United States, are resulting in large excess supplies, which, along with firm import demand, are expected to boost global pig meat trade by three per cent to 7.4 million tons this year. Pig meat imports by China, which surged in 2010 and 2011, in the wake of disease outbreaks, have continued to grow despite early year indications of adequate supplies and falling domestic prices, and may end up six per cent larger by the end of the year. The Russian Federation, Ukraine and Mexico are also foreseen to step up their purchases. Japan's imports are expected to record only a slight increase, as the sector recovers from the tsunami-related losses in 2011. Smaller volumes are forecast to flow to other Asian traditional markets, reflecting a stalling consumer demand and recoveries in production the Republic of Korea and the Philippines. Purchases by Argentina are also forecast to contract, as the recent resolution of a trade dispute with Brazil will only restore product movement between the two countries late this year.

As for exports, increased availability in the United States is expected to boost US pig meat deliveries to a record 2.3 million tonnes, three per cent up from last year. Competitively priced product in the EU could also facilitate an increase of sales, despite this year's elimination of export restitutions for pork. Developing country exports are also rebounding. For instance, shipments from Brazil are recovering following the lifting of Russian restrictions on pig meat from a number of processing units and a diversification of sales to other markets, in particular Hong Kong SAR, Ukraine and Angola. Sales by non-traditional exporters, such as Chile and Mexico, are also expected to rise, even sharply, in the case of Mexico, assisted by its newly recognised status as free of Classical Swine Fever. Shipments from Belarus are also set to increase, facilitated by a newly negotiated Customs Union with the Russian Federation.

Profitability for pork and poultry producers hit by inability to raise prices to factor in high feed costs

Further Reading You can view the full report by clicking here.

November 2012