BEIJING — China imported nearly 2 million metric tons of pork in 2019, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

The pork import surged 67 percent from 2018, said Ren Hongbin, an official with the MOC at a press conference.

The import has provided strong support for stabilizing the domestic market and meeting people's consumption demand, Ren said.

Pork prices in China have soared as the African swine fever battered the country's pork industry, driving up consumer inflation. Prices began to stabilize after the country rolled out multiple measures, such as increasing subsidies to restore hog production, releasing frozen pork reserves and expanding imports.

Last year, China imported meat products totaling 4.82 million tons, up 58 percent year-on-year, according to Ren.