CHINA imported 370,000 tons of pork in May, up 86 percent from the same month a year ago, customs data showed Tuesday, as buyers boosted overseas purchases after a collapse in domestic production.

Total pork imports for the first five months of the year came to 1.72 million tons, the General Administration of Customs said, surging by 146 percent on the same period a year ago.

Imports of pork including offal were 510,000 tons, up 62 percent on the year, and bringing total imports for this year to 2.28 million tons, the data also showed.

The huge purchases come after African swine fever ravaged China’s hog herd over the past two years, reducing pork output by almost a third in the first quarter and keeping prices of the country’s favorite meat at record highs.

May pork imports were only slightly lower than April’s record arrivals of 400,000 tons.

The strong monthly shipments came even as key suppliers including the United States and Brazil had to shut meat plants after workers were infected with the coronavirus.

Beef imports in May reached 140,000 tons, up 15 percent on a year ago, customs data also showed, with imports for the first five months at 820,000 tons, up 46 percent. (SD-Agencies)