BEIJING — China’s pork prices continued to rise in June and the tightness of pork supply is predicted to be intensified in the second half of the year, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) on July 17.

The average wholesale price of pork climbed 29.8 percent year-on-year to 21.59 yuan (about $3) per kg in June mainly because of the influence of the African swine fever, according to Tang Ke, an official with the ministry.

As hog production has been continuously declining since the fourth quarter of 2018, the pressure on pork supply has become heavier in recent months, leading to rises in the prices of beef, mutton, chicken and eggs.

Pork is the staple meat in China. The country reported its first case of African swine fever in August 2018 in the northeastern province of Liaoning. Later outbreaks were reported in several other provincial regions.

Since the first outbreak, MARA has taken strong measures to fight the disease and stabilize hog production.

While pork prices stand to keep rising in the second half, increased livestock and poultry production has optimized the consumption structure. As China expanded its imports of pork products, meat supply in China is expected to be stable, said Tang.