Bunge talks swine fever impact on feed, soybean crush and animal protein demand

Indeed, the impact will likely be felt for the next few years, said Gregory Heckman, CEO of Bunge, as first reported by AgriCensus.

He was speaking at the BMO Capital Markets 14th Annual Farm to Market Conference in New York on Wednesday [May 15].

The Bunge lead said his company would benefit from the changing trade flows as it only has 15% of its crush capacity in China.

The extent of those opportunities, however, will depend on the amount of culling likely to take place in the Chinese pig herd, on how rapid a new vaccine would be, on how long it would take to rebuild the herd, and on how much of animal protein demand gets shifted to other species and to other regions, he commented.

“But, directionally, we know it should be less beans more crush, that’s net positive for us. We think for it to be noticeable it is beyond 2019 and it is multi-year… and whichever species it is from cattle to aquaculture it is more feed and feed ingredients..."​

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