CHINA’S imports of pork from the United States more than halved to about 263,000 tons in 2018, customs data showed Friday, after China imposed tariffs on the meat as part of a trade war.

The 55-percent fall was across both quality cuts and offal, where the United States has previously accounted for about a third of China’s imports. U.S. offal shipments fell 58 percent to 177,041 tons, according to calculations based on data from the General Administration of Customs.

China is the world’s main buyer of pigs feet, as well as other items like ears, elbows and innards, providing a source of revenue for U.S. processors which can barely sell such products at home.

Nine out of every 10 pigs’ feet sold abroad by American processors in 2017 went to China, with total offal shipments to China generating about US$874 million that year, according to industry and customs data.

China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pork, the country’s most popular meat, and the top global importer, boosting its supplies with cheaper pork from abroad. Its total imports were worth about US$4 billion in 2017.

(SD-Agencies)