Citizens in Zhengzhou buy pork at a local supermarket, Jan 27, 2019. (Photo: IC)

China's pork imports surged in August, data from the country's customs authority showed.

Pork imports logged a 76-percent year-on-year increase to 162,935 tons, according to the General Administration of Customs.

China imported over 1.16 million tons of pork in the first eight months of this year, up 40.4 percent from the previous year.

Beef imports also hiked 32.4 percent last month to 130,619 tons, putting year-on-year growth for the January-August period at 53.6 percent.

Chinese authorities released 10,000 tons of pork from its central reserves earlier this month to ensure meat supply for the upcoming National Day holiday.