TOKYO -- China's swelling appetite for beef is having a global impact, with Brazilian and U.S. exporters benefiting from the lifting of import bans, and Japanese and Southeast Asian buyers bracing for higher prices amid competition with Chinese rivals.
Rising incomes are driving the stronger Chinese demand for beef, which is more expensive than pork. The growth is so fast -- one forecast sees consumption surging some 20% between 2017 and 2025 -- that local producers are unable to keep up. Beijing has responded by lifting import bans on Brazil and the U.S.
