MADRID, April 9 (Xinhua) -- China has become the world's biggest importer of Iberian ham and Spain's exports of the product to China has increased by 408 percent over the past five years, according to Spain's Inter-professional Association for Iberian Pigs (ASICI).
Spain's champion ham slicer, Anibal Falcon, told Xinhua recently that the demand for professionals able to expertly slice jamon iberico (cured ham) is also increasing around the world in recent years, including in China.
Falcon said that the demand for expert ham slicers has already taken him to China and other Asian nations.
"It is wonderful for me to see how the product is so highly valued. As ham slicers, we receive a lot of affection and respect when we travel to Asia," he said.