Pork consumers paying more as swine fever stifles supply

Prices could rise by more than 70% in latter half of this year, officials say

The price of pork in China is likely to continue rising this year due to a significant fall in the supply of pigs caused by African swine fever outbreaks, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Wednesday.

The average wholesale price of pork in the country in May was 20.6 yuan ($3) a kilogram, an increase of 1.6 percent over the previous month, and a year-on-year rise of 29.3 percent, Tang Ke, director for market and information at the ministry, said at a news conference.