(Yicai Global) Oct. 14 -- China has significantly increased its imports of pork and beef and  other meat products in the first three quarters to meet domestic consumption demand amid reduced national supplies decimated by last year's African Swine Fever epidemic, data released today by the country's General Administration of Customs show .
 

China imported a total of 1.33 million metric tons of pork, up 43.6 percent from the same period last year, and also brought in 1.13 million tons of beef during the period, up 53.4 percent, per the data.
 

China is still actively seeking new suppliers of pork products in the world market, said Li Kuiwen, a Customs spokesman.
 

Pork prices have been up significantly in recent months as a shrinking supply caused by the pestilence has pushed the price for this most consumed meat product, which is the country's main protein source, up 46.7 percent to contribute nearly 40 percent of China's August consumer price index increase.

Editor: Ben Armour