Pork exports by the Chinese mainland declined in the first eight months, due largely to high pig-raising cost, numerous raisers quitting and lingering impact from the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan Province, a major pork producer.

Between January and August, China sold abroad 50,000 tonnes of pork for 170 million U.S. dollars, a decrease of 52.4 percent and 15.6 percent, respectively, from the same period of last year, sources with the General Administration of Customs said on Saturday.

But the average price of pork soared 77.4 percent to 3,400 U.S. dollars per ton.

Of the total exports, 78 percent, or 39,000 tonnes, went to Hong Kong, down 33 percent, 4,868 tonnes to Kirghizia, down 20 percent, and 2,220 tonnes to Macao, down 31.3 percent.

Approximately 72 percent of the total, or 36,000 tonnes were sold by private businesses, down 53.7 percent, 7,172 tonnes by foreign-funded companies, down 15.7 percent, and 4,141 tonnes by state-owned enterprises, down 76.7 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2008)