China increased pork imports 470 percent year-on-year by volume in the first 10 months of 2008 to meet demand and stabilize prices, the General Administration of Customs reported Tuesday.

From January to October, China imported 348,000 tonnes of pork. These imports were valued at 490 million U.S. dollars, up 570 percent.

The United States and European Union accounted for 88.8 percent of the total. Imports from the United States rose 820 percent and those from the European Union rose 520 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2009)