China lifts 5-year ban on Belgian pork imports

In parallel with the Belgian Prime Minister's state visit to China, its customs and agriculture authorities announced the removal of a five-year ban, allowing the resumption of imports for pig and pork products from Belgium.

Before the ban, Belgium exported ~670'000mt (US$ 1.44bn) of swine meat to the world in 2017: 35% to Germany, 26% to Poland and 7% to the Netherlands while only 6'000mt (US$ 12m) went to China.

In 2017, China imported 1.2m metric tons from its main trade partners Spain, Germany, Canda, USA, Denmark and Netherlands, while from Jan-Nov 2023, Brazil seized the top spot (~377'400mt or 26% of total 1.45m metric tons).