China's pig herd shrank by 32.2% in July from the same month a year ago, its agriculture ministry said on Thursday, as African swine fever continues to spread through the country.
Swine fever has hit the world's top pork-producing nation hard, roiling its vast agribusiness sector and reshaping the global meat trade.
The growing shortfall in pigs has pushed China's live hog prices above the 2016 record, with the national average at 23.49 yuan ($3.34) per kg this week.