SHENZHEN — China will launch trading of hog futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange on Jan 8 to improve the pricing mechanism for hogs, as well as pork, a staple meat in China.

This will be an important event for China's agriculture and futures sectors, said Fang Xinghai, vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, in South China's Shenzhen in Guangdong province, on Dec 19.

The country's futures market has introduced 12 new listed varieties throughout the year amid innovation and reform efforts, he said.

By the end of November, there were 90 types of futures and options in China, including six international ones, providing effective hedging tools for enterprises, he said.