China pork imports up 470 percent in Jan-Oct

China increased pork imports 470 percent year-on-year by volume in the first 10 months of 2008 to meet demand and stabilise prices, the General Administration of Customs reported today.

From January to October, China imported 348,000 tonnes of pork. These imports were valued at US$490 million, up 570 percent.

The US and EU accounted for 88.8 percent of the total.

Imports from the US rose 820 percent and those from the EU rose 520 percent.