China to import cattle from Myanmar

The Myanmar government and the China's Yunan province are planning to finalise an agreement to export cattle to meet rising demand in the Chinese market.

China's beef consumption is 8.4 million tonnes per year, according to Beijing.

Beijing is expected to allow 14 beef-exporting countries into its domestic market. Myanmar is most likely to be one of them, Myanmar Times reported.

China will set up an abattoir near the border town of Nan Kam to check on the cattle that come from Myanmar to ensure they are healthy and fit for consumption.

"About 5000 live cattle have been exported to China monthly," Myanmar Times quoted U Kyaw Htin, vice chairman of the Myanmar Livestock Federation, as saying.

"China is now in a trade war with the US, which would be a problem as it imports 6000 metric tonnes (of beef) from the US. Myanmar will have an opportunity, but it has to be aware of neighbouring countries such as Cambodia and Laos which are also in the cattle trade," U Kyaw Htin said.

From December 2017 to May 2018, 50,022 head of cattle and 6771 head of buffalo were exported to China.

Myanmar also exports cattle to Thailand and Bangladesh.