US gets boost from Chinese demand for pork

The United States exported 27.5 billion kilograms of pork to China in the first two months of this year－almost six times what it shipped in the same period last year, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

China's pork imports may top 1 million metric tons for the first time in 2016 and are likely to be up by at least 28 percent on the 777,000 tons imported last year, Reuters reported.

Demand from China will also benefit farmers in Germany and Brazil.

China's pork imports, excluding offal, surged 111 percent in February compared to a year ago, reaching 74,371 tons. In January, imports grew by 56 percent to 97,033 tons, according to Reuters.

Since 2015, US pork production has outpaced beef, says the USDA. Its largest export markets are in Mexico, China and Japan.