BEIJING, July 14 -- China's commerce ministry Friday said that the government stockpiled 20,000 tonnes of pork to replenish state reserves.

This is the second batch of pork added to the state pork reserves in 2023, aiming to stabilize market expectations and maintain its steady operation, said the ministry.

Pork prices in China registered a week-on-week increase from July 3 to 7 but were 41.1 percent lower year on year, data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs showed.