That includes as much as 2,000 containers of buffalo meat that Indian herders ship to China every month via Vietnam to circumvent an 18-year ban by Beijing.
“It’s extremely crucial and important to get direct access to the Chinese market,” said Fauzan Alavi, the vice president of the association. “Access through Vietnam is extremely erratic. We are requesting for direct access as it will be beneficial for Chinese consumers in terms of quality and pricing.”
The South Asian nation has an extensive vaccination program in place to try and control it. China’s customs administration declined to comment. The slump in demand has seen buffalo meat prices in India drop to between US$3.10 and US$3.20 per kilogram, compared with prices of about US$5 in China, Alavi said.