Rising pork cost drives Chinese retail inflation

China's consumer price index (CPI) surged in November as a result of rising pork prices, official data showed on Tuesday.

The cost of pork more than doubled last month amid a widespread outbreak of African swine fever, which has resulted in a vast culling of the country's pigs and disrupted supplies of the staple meat.

To meet demand, Beijing has increased pork imports, with shipments from the European Union up 37% between January and April, according to European Commission figures.

The crisis has also sent prices of other sources of protein — such as beef, lamb and eggs — up as consumers switch from the costly pork.

More than a million pigs have been culled due to the outbreak, according to official statistics, but that is widely considered to be an underestimate.

China last week launched a plan to restore pork production to pre-swine fever levels by 2021, freeing up as much land as possible for hog production, including zones designated pig-free for environmental reasons.

The country's CPI came in at 4.5% for November, up from 3.8% in October and the highest rate since January 2012, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. 

kw/rc (AFP, AP, dpa)

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