THE price of a bacon sandwich could rocket after an outbreak of African swine fever in China, a York company is warning.

Procurement firm Beacon, based at Clifton Moor, said it is likely prices of pork and bacon will continue to rise with an increased demand facing European suppliers.

It comes after the deadly viral disease began affecting hogs on farms in East Asia last year after it was first detected in China in August.

Beacon said its supplier, Bidfood, has found that throughout 2019, German and Dutch bacon suppliers have seen a huge uplift in orders from China.

There was an 18 per cent increase in bacon pricing from February to April this year, according to Bidfood, Beacon said, and the market price of pork has risen by 38 per cent in the last four weeks.

The company also said another of its suppliers, Brakes, suggested that 30 to 50 per cent of Chinese pig farms have been affected by the outbreak, which has increased pig prices around the world.

Ben Charles, of Beacon, said: "Brexit has been a driving force behind the price of pork throughout the first quarter of 2019, but the outbreak of African swine fever has mounted pressure on the market.

"The current increased demand that faces European suppliers makes it increasingly likely that prices will continue to rise throughout the rest of the year.

"Beacon will work closely with its leading suppliers to monitor these increases to ensure that demand does not outstrip supply and to mitigate price increases as much as possible."

Analysts Informa Agribusiness Intelligence said pork prices in Western Europe were expected to increase by more than 15 per cent as China - the world's largest producer, consumer and importer of the meat - struggled to contain the disease.

The company also predicts that production in Western Europe will increase by 5 per cent as exporters looked to profit from increasing demand.

David Williams, director of global proteins at Informa Agribusiness Intelligence, said: "African swine fever is bringing about huge dynamic change to global pork markets. With China currently unable to stop the spread of the virus, it is needing to source additional product from its trade partners.

"If the disease is kept out of major producers such as Germany, Denmark and Spain, Western Europe in particular can expect to profit from a likely increase in Chinese import demand."

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, African swine fever is a "severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs", with no approved vaccine.

"Responsible for serious production and economic losses", the body said the virus is "not a risk to human health" and can be spread by live or dead pigs.