An unnamed executive of a meat wholesale company in Tokyo has told Yukan News that one of the reasons for the rising price of pig meat is the fear of a return of PED.

Since the infection hit the country in October 2013, the executive estimates the loss of pigs to run to at least 370,000, reducing the country's pork production.

With a likely seasonal peak in PED outbreaks ahead, the source predicted a further marked increase in pig meat prices.