On\n Friday, US border police announced their biggest agricultural overhaul \nseizure in the US: more than 1 million lbs of Chinese pork were found \nbeing smuggled into the port of New York in Newark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\n bust, which involved more than 100 customs and border protection \nofficials and dogs, found the meat hidden in 50 containers of food and \ndetergent products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe\n pork was smuggled, from China, in various different ways including in \nramen noodle bowls to Tide detergent,\u201d said Troy Miller, director of New\n York field operations for the US customs and border protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The outbreak is alarming because it comes as China is battling with a deadly outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\n announcement comes as the oilseed and feed market speculates the size \nof the impact of the current outbreak in China, home to half of the \nworld\u2019s pigs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Official\n government figures show that at least 1 million pigs have been culled \nin 115 outbreaks across the country since August last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But virtually no-one believes those figures, with most analysts claiming the figure is much higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nor does the market believe that the disease is on the wane, despite the official figures showing exactly that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking\n at official reports from China\u2019s ministry of agriculture shows that \nthere were five incidents in August, rising to 25 in September, hitting a\n peak of 27 in October and falling away to just five incidents in \nFebruary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On\n Monday, the USDA said the size of China\u2019s herd will fall 13% by the end\n of the year, saying many outbreaks have not been reported because \nprovincial governments typically do not report the disease to the \nfederal government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome\n contacts have reported instances where individuals were actually \ndiscouraged or prevented from publicizing outbreaks in their region… a\n hog manager in Shandong Province was allegedly arrested for reporting \nan ASF outbreak to the national government, after his reports to local \ngovernment were ignored,” the USDA said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In\n addition, the compensation paid to farmers is less than half the market\n value of the pig, leaving many to cull pigs and sell the pork as \nuncontaminated meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt\n this point, it is unclear when China\u2019s government will have sufficient \ncontrol over the ASF situation to convince domestic industry to begin \nrestocking and expanding. Many in the swine industry are still taking a \nwait-and-see approach to ASF in making business decisions,\u201d the USDA \nsaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Miller of US Customs and Border Protection said if the disease spreads to the United States, it could cause $10 billion worth of damage to the nation\u2019s pork industry in just one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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