Helen Deng

FRENCH supermarket giant Carrefour’s stores were among a number of Shenzhen retail outlets which lowered pork prices by 2-3 percent Thursday, the first reduction since pork prices scaled new heights in the past two months.

The drop in prices came as the supply of pork in Shenzhen increased slightly. However, industry insiders say pork is not likely to become much cheaper.

At Vanguard’s Caitian store, the price of lean pork was 25.6 yuan (US$3.37) per kilogram this week, three yuan less than previously.

At the Xiangmei Wet Market in Futian District, the price of lean pork was two yuan cheaper than a week ago.

There was no change in the price of pork at Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club.

The price of pork dropped as pigs became cheaper in Shenzhen. According to Longgang-based pork wholesaler Li Shun, the price of pigs fell 0.30 yuan to 16.20 yuan per kilogram Tuesday, the first drop since June 2.

“The tight supply of pigs that lasted from May to July was slightly relieved recently,” Huang Chunchun, a pig farmer in Jiangxi Province who sells pigs to Shenzhen, said.

Pig breeders in Jiangxi are recovering from a pig epidemic called PRRS. The disease affected 25 provinces in China, said Huang.

Fu Yuxia, a spokesperson for Carrefour Shenzhen, was not optimistic about pork prices in the long term. “The price drop of pork is not significant, and may not continue,” said Fu. “With the supply of pigs remains tight, the price of pork may rise again.”

Nationwide, the price of pork dropped 1.5 percent in the past week due to increased supply, according to the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday. It was also the first drop in two months.