Pork Shortage Plagues China

Beijing dips into pork preserve to avoid crisis
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 3, 2008 6:09 PM CST
Pork Shortage Plagues China
A Chinese woman buys pork from a market store in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008. China's temporary price control measures are unlikely to change the trend of rising prices, and increasing production is the key to stemming inflation, an official from the country's top economic planner said Thursday....   (Associated Press)

Pigjacking is China's latest crime. Sounds like a joke? Crooks are scoffing the swine thanks to a boom economy and a pig shortage that has hogs highly valued. With a record winter storm stranding thousands and sparking unrest, Beijing is dipping into its official pork preserve—hoping to calm a country that gets 65% of its protein from porkers, Newsweek reports.

But snow is likely to stall shipments and keep sow from reaching dinner tables in time for China's Lunar New Year. What's more, a stymied pork economy could reach other shores: Analysts warn that China will soon be a net importer and pig problems may cause grain prices to spike worldwide. (More China stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X