By Ella Cao and Lewis Jackson
BEIJING (Reuters) -China has suspended imports for Argentine poultry products from August 20, just five months after lifting a two-year ban.
The notice of suspension, which was posted on a customs website, did not state a reason for the move or how long the suspension might stay in place.
Customs authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Beijing has also banned on poultry and related imports from its largest supplier, Brazil, since May and on imports from Spain this month, with authorities noting bird flu outbreaks in both countries.
The two-year ban on Argentine poultry followed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the country’s commercial poultry.
“This decision may help support the prices of some poultry products as China has restricted imports from some major suppliers,” said Pan Chenjun, a senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank in Hong Kong.
“However, its overall impact (on prices) is likely limited due to China’s current surplus of poultry meat and the industry’s ongoing financial struggles.”
China mainly imports poultry products such as chicken feet, chicken wings, and bone-in chicken pieces.
China’s poultry meat imports from January to July totalled 226,013 metric tons, down 2% compared to the same period last year, customs data shows.
(Reporting by Ella Cao, Lewis Jackson and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
