BEIJING — China will see an increase in pork output this year amid government measures to restore hog production, a report showed.

Pork production is expected to reach 48 million metric tons this year, 5 million tons more than that last year, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

While the epidemic has brought challenges to hog production, government incentives such as preferential loans for large-scale farms have accelerated its recovery, the report said.

China has been taking multi-pronged measures to boost the supply of pork, a staple meat in the country.

Pork prices in China edged down last month as supply increased and demand softened, official data showed.