(Yicai Global) July 10 -- A shipment of 23 tons of beef imported from Panama has successfully undergone inspection and laboratory testing at Qingpu Customs in Shanghai in the entry of the Central American country's first batch of beef products into China.

The meat arrived on July 5 and inspectors completed their checks for agricultural and drug residues and heavy metals and passed the beef as meeting quality standards within 48 hours, Shanghai Observer reported.

Customs also took the initiative to contact the importers and customs clearance companies awaiting the shipment to ensure its smooth entry into the domestic market, then accepted it and concluded their customs clearance and review formalities.

China's meat imports have risen drastically this year as African Swine Fever continues to ravage the country's pig herds and ever-greater wealth whets Chinese consumers appetite for exotic meat from pastures perceived as greener. Production of pork, the nation's number one protein staple, has declined by as much as 40 percent this year, the North Sydney-based semi-governmental trade organization Meat & Livestock Australia reports.

The combined world production for export of all other types of meat is insufficient to supply this shortfall, it further notes, and forecasts the pivot of the global meat supply will turnever more toward China.

The Republic of Panama, which established diplomatic relations with China in June 2017, is the first Latin American country to pen a framework agreement for cooperation with China on its Belt and Road trade initiative. Economic and commercial ties between the two countries have grown rapidly ever since.

Editor: Ben Armour