AFRICAN SWINE FLU DECIMATES CHINESE SWINE HERD

According to a report by ABC, the second wave of African swine fever (ASF) is estimated to have killed almost 10 million pigs in China since the start of the year, derailing the country's plans to rebuild its national herd. 

New variants of the swine  exterminating ASF have emerged in Asia. Hundreds of millions of pigs were killed by the disease in the last couple of years, in China, Asia and Europe reducing the world's stock by more than 40%. 

The first reported outbreak of ASF was in August 2018 and within one year it had spread to multiple countries.

According to analysts, China's aim to rebuild its pig herd by the middle of the year now seems impossible.

Analyst Simon Quilty said the Asian Swine Flu variants that have hit China in 2021 has had significant impacts on the global protein market.