Chinese Pork Imports Seen Falling 7% as Domestic Supplies Rise

(Dow Jones) -- Chinese pork imports will likely decrease by 7% in 2018 to 1.5 million tons as domestic pork supplies increase and prices continue their downward trend further narrowing the gap between domestic and imported products, the USDA says. Last week China put a new tariff on imports of US pork but imports from other countries were unaffected. The USDA notes that Chinese consumers prefer fresh pork and that most imported products are used by processing facilities churning out ham and sausages, a factor that will weigh on future demand.