(Yicai Global) Jan. 23 -- China's December pork imports grew by almost threefold to 269,846 tons from a year ago, according to customs data. 

Beef imports also climbed by nearly twofold to 189,312 tons, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement today.

Last year, China shipped in 75 percent more pork at 2.1 million tons from a year earlier, spurred by shortages caused by the country's African swine fever outbreaks, the GAC revealed earlier. Beef imports rose by 60 percent to 1.7 million tons.

Editor: Emmi Laine